In today’s news: Shafali Verma will play in this year’s Hundred, Fran Kirby helps Chelsea win back-to-back WSL titles and Dame Sarah Storey claims she followed the correct TUE process.
Shafali Verma to play for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred
Number one ranked T20 batter Shafali Verma will join the Birmingham Phoenix for this year’s inaugural season of the Hundred.
The 17-year-old is one of the most exciting names in the world right now and will join the side in place of Kiwi all-rounder Sophie Devine.
The opener has played 22 T20s for India, scoring 617 runs at a strike rate of 148.31
Chelsea win back-to-back Women’s Super League titles
Fran Kirby scored twice as Chelsea beat Reading 5-0 to retain their Women’s Super League crown.
The Blues knew that a win of any kind would be enough to clinch their third trophy of the year, but goals from Melanie Leopulz, Sam Kerr, Erin Cuthbert and Kirby’s double, made sure they did so in emphatic style.
Manchester City beat West Ham 1-0 to finish as runners-up, while Reading’s Fara Williams captained the Royals in her last game before retirement.
Dame Sara Storey “followed appropriate process” over TUE according to British Cycling
British Cycling says Dame Sarah Storey and the British Paralympic Association “followed the appropriate process” over a retrospective therapeutic use exemption.
The Times reported that the 14 time Paralympic gold medallist delivered a salbutamol level higher than the permitted limit during the 2012 London Games.
A British Cycling spokesperson said: "Our understanding is that both the British Paralympic Association and the rider followed the appropriate processes and that the International Paralympic Committee, UK Anti-Doping and the World Anti-Doping Agency have raised no concerns either at the time or since.
"As one of our responsibilities as a governing body is to give a voice to athletes in our sport, we must raise concerns at what would appear to be a substantial breach of privacy without a substantial demonstration that this was in the public interest.
"One of the reasons why World Anti-Doping Agency [Wada] processes are confidential is to protect athlete well-being so we are particularly concerned by the impact stories like this could have on athletes who may under-use their medicine, and harm their health, rather than risk their private medical records becoming public in the future."
BBC to show two women’s T20 internationals this summer
Two England Women Twenty20 matches will be televised on the BBC this summer as part of a comprehensive TV, radio and digital package.
Both the third T20 against India in July and the opening game against New Zealand on 1st September will have live coverage.
The inaugural match of the Hundred, featuring Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals will also be shown by the BBC, with up to eight other women’s fixtures.
Jemma Reekie claims 800m personal best at USATF Golden Games
Great Britain's Jemma Reekie ran an outdoor personal best to win the 800m at the Golden Games in California, United States.
Reekie registered a time of one minute 58.27 seconds, passing Canada’s Melissa Bishop with just 120 metres to go.
Her compatriot Laura Muir finished second, while Adelle Tracey crossed in fourth as all three met the Olympic qualifying standard ahead of next week’s trials.