SWIMMING: The World Aquatics Championships have been delayed for a second time due to coronavirus, the mayor of host city Fukuoka in Japan has announced.

Having initially been scheduled for last year, the event was moved to avoid a clash with the rearranged Tokyo Olympics.

Now the championships look set to be postponed until 2023 with the slated dates in May ruled out by mayor Soichiro Takashima as the ramifications of coronavirus rumble on.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: England midfielder Jill Scott has joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the Women’s Super League season.

The 34-year-old has made almost 200 appearances for City over the last eight-and-a-half years and won her 150th senior international cap against Northern Ireland in February last year.

MEN’S CRICKET: David Warner and Mitch Marsh are among the omissions in Australia’s 16-man squad for a Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka in February, while coach Justin Langer will also be absent.

Australia are hosting Sri Lanka in a five-match T20 series, with the games to be spread across the Sydney Cricket Ground, Manuka Oval in Canberra and the Melbourne Cricket Ground from February 11-20.

RACING: The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed that minimum riding weights for both flat and jump jockeys will be permanently raised by 2lb.

From March 26 the minimum weight carried by flat jockeys will be 8st 2lb while their jumping counterparts will ride from a minimum of 10st 2lb from April 29, and maximum weights will rise in line with the increase at the bottom of the weights. 

The 3lb Covid allowance will remain in place until the new revised weights structure is implemented.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Former Celtic manager Wim Jansen, capped 65 times by Holland, has died aged 75, Feyenoord have confirmed.

The midfielder, associated with the Dutch club from the age of 10, had been living with dementia.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been hit with an FA charge after he was sent off for confronting the referee after the loss to Wolves on Saturday.

The Bees have now suffered six defeats in their past seven Premier League fixtures.