Raheem Sterling’s status for Chelsea’s upcoming match has become a point of interest following a statement from his representatives. They highlighted Sterling’s strong working relationship with new manager Enzo Maresca and expressed expectation that he would be involved in Sunday’s fixture at Stamford Bridge.

The statement revealed that Sterling had returned to England two weeks early to engage in individual training and had enjoyed a positive pre-season under Maresca. “He is committed, as ever, to delivering at the highest level for Chelsea FC and the fans, who he holds in high regard,” it read. The expectation of his involvement in the weekend’s game was bolstered by his inclusion in official pre-match materials.

Chelsea’s significant investment in the transfer market this summer, totaling around £185 million for 11 new signings, has resulted in a squad of over 40 senior players. Sterling, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City for £50 million in July 2022, has made 81 appearances for the club. His early arrival and positive pre-season performances had led to anticipation of his role in the upcoming match.

However, Maresca addressed the media about his decision to leave Sterling out of the squad. “The manager has to make some decisions. Sometimes players don’t like it, that’s normal,” Maresca told Sky Sports. “Just a technical decision, no more than that.”

Chelsea, under co-controlling owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, has spent approximately £1.5 billion on transfers since their takeover, with a strategic focus on acquiring younger players with high resale value. Sterling was among the first to join the club after the ownership change.

The statement from Sterling’s representatives noted ongoing positive dialogue with Chelsea regarding his future at the club and expressed hope for clarity on the situation. As Sterling and his camp await further details, they remain focused on supporting his ambition to start the new season on a strong note.

Organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympics announced on Sunday that the practice swim session in the River Seine had been cancelled due to poor water quality. The decision was made after recent heavy rains caused the water quality to fall below the required standards.

Despite initial expectations of improvement in conditions by Sunday morning, the water quality remained insufficient to permit the practice swim scheduled for 07:00 BST. The rain, which occurred towards the end of last week, led to increased levels of E. coli and other bacteria in the Seine.

As a result of the deteriorated conditions, the men’s triathlon event has been postponed by a day and is now set to take place on Wednesday. The heavy rainfall has impacted the water quality, though Paris is expected to experience a temperature of 25°C later on Sunday, which could help in reducing the bacterial levels in the river.

Olympic organizers are closely monitoring the situation and are working to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to maintain safety and hygiene standards for the upcoming events.

Mohammad Samim Faizad, a judoka representing Afghanistan at the Paris Olympics, has tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, the same substance that disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Faizad’s provisional disqualification from the Games was announced on Saturday by the International Testing Agency (ITA).

Faizad, 21, provided a sample during his opening bout, which resulted in a positive test for stanozolol. The judoka, competing in the men’s 81-kilogram weight class, was defeated by Austria’s Wachid Borchashvili on Tuesday. Following the positive test, Faizad has been provisionally suspended in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) anti-doping rules.

“The athlete has been informed of the case and has been provisionally suspended until the resolution of the matter,” the ITA stated. This suspension prevents Faizad from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activities during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Faizad was the sole athlete based in Afghanistan on the six-member Afghan team competing in Paris, which included three men and three women. His suspension follows the earlier doping case of Iraqi judoka Sajjad Sehen, who was the first athlete to be suspended from the Paris Olympics over doping. Sehen tested positive for the banned anabolic steroids methandienone and boldenone on July 23, following a preliminary test match.

The doping cases cast a shadow over the judo events at the Paris Games and highlight ongoing concerns about performance-enhancing drugs in competitive sports. The ITA continues to investigate both cases as part of its commitment to ensuring fair competition and upholding the integrity of the Olympic Games.