By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The global body’s president Sebastian Coe said the decision taken by the World Athletics Council was further evidence his organisation would ‘doggedly’ protect the female category.

No timeline for the introduction of pre-clearance testing has been officially set out, but the PA news agency understands World Athletics’ intention is to have the testing in place for athletes wanting to compete in the female category at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.

Coe said on Tuesday: ‘It’s important to do it because it maintains everything that we’ve been talking about, and particularly recently, about not just talking about the integrity of female women’s sport, but actually guaranteeing it.

‘We feel this is a really important way of providing confidence and maintaining that absolute focus on the integrity of competition.’

Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies MBE, who has spoken out vehemently on the issue of trans athletes competing in women’s events, was delighted by the news on Tuesday and called for medals to be re-issued for ‘unfairly robbed’ women.

She posted on social media platform X: ‘No more cheating in track and fields by males in a category for females. I’d very much like to see medals re issued for events ruined and women unfairly robbed!’

World Athletics conducted consultation on the proposal earlier this year, and Coe said: ‘Overwhelmingly, the view has come back that this is absolutely the way to go, within the caveats raised (on testing not being too intrusive).’

Asked whether he felt the policy would stand up to legal challenge and scrutiny, Coe said: ‘Yes I am, but you accept the fact that that is the world we live in.

‘I would never have set off down this path to protect the female category in sport if I’d been anything other than prepared to take the challenge head on. We’ve been to the Court of Arbitration on our DSD (difference of sexual development) regulations.

‘They have been upheld, and they have again been upheld after appeal. So we will doggedly protect the female category, and we’ll do whatever is necessary to do it.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A man identified as Wealth Nnamdi has been declared wanted by the Edo State Police Command over the alleged murder of his pregnant fiancée, Osasu Loveth Isaac, and her three-year-old daughter, Miracle, in Benin City.

The incident occurred on Idiangbona Street in Ovbiogoe Community following a heated argument between the couple on March 16, 2025.

Neighbours said they were used to their frequent quarrels so did not suspect the altercation would end in tragedy.

A source in the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the couple had been together for over three years after Nnamdi moved in with Osasu and her daughter from a previous relationship.

Their traditional wedding had been fixed for March 29, 2025 while the church ceremony was scheduled for April 6.

“It is heartbreaking because she was excited about the wedding. She was already pregnant for him, and they had been living together. But on Sunday, they had a serious argument. We didn’t think much of it because they usually fought,” the source said.

“When the argument stopped, we thought they had settled. But after two days, a foul smell started coming from their room. That was when we called the police.”

Spokesperson of the command, CSP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident said officers from the Ekiadolor Division forced the door open after neighbours reported a disturbing odour.

“The Edo State Police Command has since commenced an investigation into the gruesome m3rder of a woman popularly known as ‘Mama Hallelujah’ and her three-year-old daughter, Miracle,” Yamu stated.

“On March 18, 2025, at about 8:30 pm, the Ekiadolor Division received a report from a concerned neighbour who complained of a strong odour coming from the deceased’s apartment.

“Upon arrival, officers discovered the room locked from the outside. When they forced it open, they found the decomposing bodies of the woman and her daughter. The woman had a deep cut on her head, suspected to have been inflicted with a machete, while the child was found lifeless on the bed.”

Yamu noted that preliminary investigations point to Nnamdi as the prime suspect, as he has been missing since the discovery.

“The suspect has gone into hiding, and the command is making all efforts to track him down and bring him to justice,” he added.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigerian actress and reality star, Annie Macaulay has broken her silence following alleged divorce from singer, 2baba.

Some months ago, 2Baba, in a now-deleted Instagram post, announced his divorce from Annie.

He went further to announce his engagement to Natasha Osawaru, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Reacting to the development, Annie gave reasons for her silence.

Her words, “Silence isn’t weakness it’s peace. Since my divorce from Innocent Idibia, I chose to step back, reflect, and heal away from the noise. The truth is, not everything needs to be explained, and not every battle is meant to be fought in public”.

“Love, pain, lessons, and growth all come with life’s journey. I have embraced mine with grace, focusing on myself, my children, and the future ahead. Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words”.

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Nigerian actress and reality star, Annie Macaulay has broken her silence following alleged divorce from singer, 2baba.

Some months ago, 2Baba, in a now-deleted Instagram post, announced his divorce from Annie.

He went further to announce his engagement to Natasha Osawaru, a member of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Reacting to the development, Annie gave reasons for her silence.

Her words, “Silence isn’t weakness it’s peace. Since my divorce from Innocent Idibia, I chose to step back, reflect, and heal away from the noise. The truth is, not everything needs to be explained, and not every battle is meant to be fought in public”.

“Love, pain, lessons, and growth all come with life’s journey. I have embraced mine with grace, focusing on myself, my children, and the future ahead. Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words”.