The global governing body for track and field
Two-time Olympic athlete Ciara Mageean has died at 34 after a battle with bowel cancer. The Portaferry native won European gold in Rome (2024) and silver at the Commonwealth Games (2022), with a career marked by resilience and record-breaking runs. She married Thomas Moran recently and is survived by family and friends.
London has submitted its bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. A deal with West Ham United and London Stadium LLP ensures the London Stadium will be used, while UK government and Mayor of London support the bid. The host city will be announced in September 2026.
Russia’s athletics federation has filed a new appeal at CAS to overturn World Athletics sanctions that ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from global events. The IOC has allowed Russian competitors in some Olympic qualifiers, sparking debate among federations that have eased restrictions in other sports. The case tests the balance between sport and politics as World Athletics defends its integrity.
Audrey Werro’s late fall has been overturned on appeal, keeping the anticipated final with Hodgkinson and Broeders-Bol intact. Werro is through to Friday’s final after video review showed a hand contact during the final bend; Hodgkinson and Broeders-Bol advance comfortably, with Reekie winning the first semi. The field now stands as a high-profile podium chase in Birmingham.
Athletes face a late setback as Sawe withdraws from the BMW Berlin Marathon with an unspecified injury, while contenders in Sydney and London push toward potential records. The Berlin race remains a marquee event, with a women’s field led by Tigist Assefa and a reshaped men’s lineup after Sawe’s withdrawal.
Davis-Woodhall has been sidelined by a severe concussion from a head-on crash while en route to training. She remains uncertain for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest as doctors pursue a full recovery and her team weighs readiness for the event.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen has won the inaugural Ultimate Championships 5,000m in 12:59.24, earning $150,000. The event also featured other champions, including Duplantis and Russell, with a $10m prize fund and a range of record attempts.
Athletes at the Ultimate Championship have secured $150,000 first prizes, reshaping how track and field rewards performance. Competitors across sprints, distance and field events have delivered standout results amidst a star-studded field.
World Athletics’ Ultimate Championship is running Budapest’s three-day event with a $10m prize pot and a winner’s share of $150,000, aiming to give track and field a new, spectator-friendly format. Top athletes from around the world are competing; the event seeks to sustain interest between Olympics and Worlds.
World Athletics has reaffirmed its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competition as CAS reviews sanctions tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The IOC and other sports bodies have varied in their treatment of Russian athletes, with CAS hearings ongoing and the Los Angeles 2028 Games in view.
The Novig advertising campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney, showing her in minimal clothing while posing with sports gear, has prompted widespread criticism from athletes and commentators about the sexualisation of women in sport. The backlash has seen outspoken responses from figures like Amy Hunt, Ariarne Titmus and Gracie Kramer, while Sweeney defends the project and highlights other nude campaigns.
Josh Kerr has delivered a landmark season, winning the Ultimate Championship 1500m and collecting multiple titles, as Amy Hunt also posts a record-breaking year. The duo’s success fuels discussion over BBC SPOTY selection amid a strong athletics year.
Nairobi has become the first African city to host the World Athletics Championships, with Munich set to stage the 2031 edition. The decision follows a World Athletics council meeting in Budapest, highlighting Africa’s emergence in the sport and the continued growth of global championships.
The controversy over a Novig advert featuring the Euphoria star wearing minimal clothing and sports equipment has prompted a strong response from the female sporting community. Athletes and fans argue such imagery harms participation among young girls, who face rising dropout rates in sport.
World Athletics has awarded Nairobi the 2029 World Championships, marking Africa’s first hosting of the event. Munich will stage 2031, while London and Rome miss out. Kenya touts upgrades to Kasarani Stadium and infrastructure as a historic milestone for African sport.
Peres Jepchirchir has been provisionally suspended after an out-of-competition sample collected in Kenya returned an adverse analytical finding for EPO. The Athletics Integrity Unit has opened an investigation; Jepchirchir’s Sydney Marathon win in August was affected. Kenya’s distance-running programme is facing intensified scrutiny ahead of the 2029 world championships in Nairobi.