FIGURE SKATING: Three figure skaters from Russia and Belarus have been approved for participation at the Winter Olympics in February.

Eighteen-year-old Russian Adeliia Petrosian, her team-mate Petr Gumennik, and Viktoriia Safonova have been granted neutral status for the Games following a vetting procedure undertaken by the IOC.

In order to be allowed to compete in Milan and Cortina, Russian and Belarusian athletes must not have actively supported the invasion of Ukraine, and sign a commitment to respect the Olympic charter.

FORMULA ONE: Lando Norris trailed championship rival Oscar Piastri in practice for the Qatar Grand Prix with Max Verstappen only sixth.

Norris heads both Piastri and Verstappen by 24 points heading into the penultimate round of the title race in Doha.

However, Norris finished just 0.058 seconds adrift of McLaren team-mate Piastri in the sole practice session of the weekend, with qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race due to follow after the Morning Star goes to print today.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Scotland scored a stoppage-time equaliser through debutant Maria McAneny to snatch a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in Jerez today.

Melissa Andreatta’s side had fallen behind to a goal from Roksolona Kravchuk late in the first half and looked to be heading towards defeat until McAneny fired in during the sixth minute of added time following a scramble at a corner.

Scotland finish their Spanish training camp with another friendly against China on Tuesday.

MEN’S RUGBY UNION: Skipper Dewi Lake insists under-strength Wales are raring to go against South Africa in a fixture that has provoked widespread bemusement throughout Welsh rugby.

Wales are without their 13 England and France-based players at the Millennium Stadium Saturday because the game falls outside World Rugby’s official Test window.

The Welsh Rugby Union has been heavily criticised for arranging a fixture viewed as a money-making exercise and one that could do significant damage to the morale of Steve Tandy’s squad.