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Why Iga Swiatek’s doping case being kept secret is bad for tennis

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Why Iga Swiatek’s doping case being kept secret is bad for tennis

Iga Swiatek’s one-month suspension for unintentionally taking the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ) comes down to picograms. World No. 2 Swiatek’s positive test, recorded August 12 and communicated to her alongside a provisional suspension September 12, detected 50 picograms of TMZ per milliliter of urine, which doping experts call a trace amount.

A picogram is 1,000th of a nanogram; there are one billion nanograms in a gram. Not the sort of usage that would provide any advantage in a tennis match.

Combined with Swiatek submitting her medications and supplements to independent laboratories alongside hair samples, those numbers led the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to accept her explanation that she had taken a contaminated dose of melatonin, which she had used to help her sleep to combat jet lag.

Here are some more numbers.

On September 20, 15 days after Jessica Pegula knocked her out of the U.S. Open and eight days after being told she had tested positive, Swiatek announced she was going to skip one of the top tournaments of the year.

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“Due to personal matters, I’m forced to withdraw from the China Open in Beijing,” Swiatek said in a statement. “I’m very sorry as I had an amazing time playing and winning this tournament last year and was really looking forward to being back there. I know that the fans will experience great tennis there and I’m sorry I won’t be a part of it this time.”

The announcement came after Swiatek spent the end of the summer rightfully talking about how exhausted she was following the Olympic Games in July and August, at which she took the bronze medal after an intense period that included winning her fourth French Open in five years, competing at Wimbledon, and not winning a gold medal for which she was viewed as champion-in-waiting. Skipping a tournament due to “personal matters” seemed to fit with that narrative. Fatigue. A medical issue. Burnout. Family stuff.


Iga Swiatek at the Olympics earlier this year. (Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP via Getty Images)

Under the broadest definition, “personal matters” does cover just about anything. That said, when someone uses that phrase, the immediate understanding generally involves some sort of health or family issue. It’s personal, and generally separate from something that’s either public or professional.

There’s also an implicit boundary request in the phrase: What’s going on is my own business.

But positive doping tests and provisional suspensions handed down by an anti-doping authority are not personal matters. Those are professional matters, in a profession that is very public.

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Explaining Iga Swiatek’s doping ban, why it was kept secret and what it means for tennis

The ITIA holds off on announcing any positive test for 10 days so the player has the right to appeal the provisional suspension. If the player decides to appeal, the agency keeps the findings secret, and the player generally does, too. Then the process of testing, litigation and judging unfolds behind closed doors. In Swiatek’s case, her successful appeal allowed her to play the WTA Tour Finals and the Billie Jean King Cup Finals while that process was going on.

Swiatek’s team’s statement says that she “was unable to inform the public about the ongoing investigation”. The ITIA’s code subjects its officials, employees and associates to confidentiality, but nothing explicitly prohibits a player who has tested positive and is serving a provisional suspension during an appeal from explaining what’s going on.

So, if you feel that you have been misled the past few months, then join the club. “Personal matter” doesn’t begin to describe a positive doping test and the process that ensued, and in the the long run, that less-than-transparent explanation for her absence may end up harming Swiatek more than the positive test for unintentionally taking a performance-enhancing substance that likely had no effect on her performance.

Whose decision was it to describe this as a “personal matter”? Was any consideration given to saying something else?

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On Friday, Paula Wolecka, a spokesperson for Swiatek, stated in an email that Swiatek had experienced great distress because she knew she was innocent of intentionally doping and had taken contaminated medicine.

“The decisions were made with the best intentions at every stage of the process, step by step, according to current knowledge of the team and circumstances,” Wolecka wrote.

“Iga did everything in her power to act fair, to follow the ITIA’s procedures and requirements and after the decision was officially published by the ITIA, provide everyone with as many details of the process as possible to be fully transparent. Being a good human being with a strong core of values is crucial to her and she does her best to act in line with it, on and off the court.”

In a video statement Thursday, Swiatek said, “The whole thing will definitely stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Both Swiatek’s one-month suspension and the decision not to ban Jannik Sinner for his two positive tests for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, have been conducted according to ITIA protocol. Both cases have also revealed deep wells of mistrust and anger within tennis from fans and players alike, confused at players being allowed to play while under investigation. Everything has been done by the book. The book appears in need of a rewrite.

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There are also plenty of hard-nosed anti-doping officials who believe the science has gotten ahead of the rulebook. Swiatek tested negative multiple times before the positive test and then again after. That would indicate that she was not in the middle of a doping cycle, and the trace amount of TMZ suggested an unintentional use as well.


Iga Swiatek playing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 3. (Robert Prange / Getty Images)

So perhaps provisional suspensions are not the way to go when the science says the athlete didn’t receive any benefit.

On a conference call with reporters Thursday, the ITIA’s chief executive, Karen Moorhouse, said the rules are in place to be fair to the players. “We’ve been absolutely transparent once they’ve reached an outcome,” Moorhouse said.

But is that transparent enough?

It’s true that players may not see much incentive for going public amid a period of uncertainty; that as soon as they announce they have tested positive for a banned substance and are under investigation, everyone will brand them as a cheater. Some no doubt would.

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But a player is going to have to answer for the positive test eventually anyway. Would Swiatek, the ITIA and tennis be better off had they jointly come clean about this in September, rather than announcing it as done and dusted now, after Swiatek had spent the fall giving other explanations for her absence from competitive tennis?

It’s hard to not think so.

Now she has both tested positive and opted not to be “absolutely transparent” for two months. That’s not a very good combination.

It’s impossible to consider the Swiatek case without comparing it to that of Sinner, the world No. 1 in the men’s game.

Sinner tested positive for clostebol on March 10 this year at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif, and again on March 18, out of competition. The independent tribunals of the ITIA determined the now 23-year-old Italian bore “no fault or negligence” for the positive tests, and therefore wasn’t deserving of a ban. But all this only became public at the conclusion of the ITIA’s investigations and hearings in mid-August.

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There wasn’t much transparency there either, and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since challenged and appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS), arguing that Sinner’s level of culpability should be upgraded to “no significant fault or negligence”, which would leave him facing a ban of up to two years.

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Jannik Sinner’s doping case explained: What WADA appeal means and what is at stake for tennis

Through it all though, Sinner never explained anything to the public. He didn’t have to. He successfully appealed two provisional suspensions quickly enough to avoid missing any tournaments. Still, when the ITIA announced the details of the Sinner investigation and its ruling, much of the tennis-watching public felt like people had put one over on them.

That’s not good for anyone.

Swiatek repeatedly talked about the matter coming to a close in her video statement. Yet it’s hard to believe it has.

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She will absolutely face more questions when the 2025 season begins in Australia in late December — about the doping violation, but also about why she didn’t tell us what was really keeping her off the court. So too will tennis authorities, about how a system which they say is working as designed can create situations in which so many people feel left in the dark.

 (Top photo: Robert Prange / Getty Images)

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NFL All-Rookie Team: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and more 2024 draft picks who shined

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January 10, 2025

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NFL All-Rookie Team: Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and more 2024 draft picks who shined

As I put finishing grades on prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, I find myself wishing it were as strong of a class as the 2024 version.

Based on the rookie film, last year’s draft class certainly hasn’t disappointed in the NFL. Here is a look at The Athletic’s All-Rookie team:

Quarterback

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Round 1, No. 2 overall)

Because of the season Bo Nix had, this was a much closer race than anyone expected. From start to finish this season, though, Daniels was the best rookie quarterback.

He engineered a dramatic franchise turnaround, leading a Commanders team that won just four games a year ago to a 12-5 finish. Daniels passed for 3,568 yards and accounted for 31 total touchdowns, finishing No. 1 among rookies in completion percentage (69 percent), yards per attempt (7.4) and passing first downs (204).

Daniels is a high-completion passer, but it’s what he brings with his legs that separates him. He set a rookie QB rushing record (891 yards) and finished 10th in the NFL with 28 carries of 10-plus yards. He also scrambled an NFL-high 75 times, so it will be interesting to see how that number fluctuates over the next few seasons.

A common thread between Daniels and Nix? Both were five-year starters in college, and that experience certainly played a part in their successes.

Second team: Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (Round 1, No. 12)

In most years, Nix runs away with Offensive Rookie of the Year. His finished the regular season with 3,775 passing yards, 29 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions, adding 430 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. And, like Daniels, Nix played a critical part in leading his team to double-digit wins and the playoffs.

The two things I liked best about Nix as a prospect: He understood where to go with the football, and his scrambling gave defenders fits. The main concerns, however, were how much he relied on the quick game in college and how he struggled when his eyes sped up on him. All credit to Nix and Sean Payton for the QB’s development. He’s been proving a lot of people wrong, including me.

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Honorable mentions: Caleb Williams (Bears), Drake Maye (Patriots), Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons), Spencer Rattler (Saints), Joe Milton III (Patriots)

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Running back

Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 4, No. 125)

Just four running backs rushed for 1,100-plus yards while averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry this season: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jahmyr Gibbs and … Irving. He played only 45.2 percent of Tampa’s offensive snaps and had single-digit carries in eight of 17 games, but Irving proved to be a valuable part of the Bucs’ run to an NFC South title — Tampa finished 6-1 in its final seven games and Irving averaged 119.1 total yards per game during that stretch.

The sixth back drafted in April, Irving finished No. 1 among all first-year running backs in rushing yards (1,122), rushing touchdowns (eight) and receiving (47 catches for 392 yards). Some soured on him during the draft process due to his average testing (4.55-second 40-yard dash and 29.5-inch vertical, at only 192 pounds), but his instinctive run qualities and pass-catching skills made it easy to appreciate Irving’s skill set.

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Second team: Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants (Round 5, No. 166)

In basketball terms, Tracy would be that high-energy sixth man who can swing games when he catches fire. The Purdue product was a threat to rip off an explosive play any time he touched the ball — he finished with six carries of 20-plus yards (one more than Bijan Robinson). Tracy (839 yards) was the only rookie back other than Irving to top 500 yards rushing.

Honorable mentions: Ray Davis (Bills), Isaac Guerendo (49ers), Braelon Allen (Jets), Trey Benson (Cardinals), Audric Estime (Broncos)

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Wide receiver

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 1, No. 23); Malik Nabers, New York Giants (Round 1, No. 6)

LSU teammates a year ago, Thomas and Nabers took the NFL by storm — despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play.

Thomas finished with a rookie-best 1,282 receiving yards, third most in the NFL behind only Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. He had the fastest “flying 20” at the combine, so it was no surprise that he proved to be a big-play weapons almost immediately, producing a league-best five catches of 50-plus yards. He felt like a steal on draft night, and that is even more true now.

Nabers, meanwhile, finished third among all NFL receivers with 109 catches (behind only Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown), even though he missed two games. His 1,204 receiving yards ranked seventh in the league, and he was one of the best at making defenders miss in space and moving the chains. Nabers is (already) knocking on the door of being considered a top-five NFL receiver.

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Second team: Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (Round 1, No. 4); Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (Round 1, No. 28)

Harrison’s production pales in comparison to expectations, but he still had a very respectable rookie campaign. He finished fourth among first-year receivers with 822 receiving yards, and his seven touchdowns tied with Nabers and Ladd McConkey for second most among rookies. On 108 targets, Harrison was tagged with just one drop.

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Worthy wasn’t considered a first-rounder by most teams, due to his lack of size and the undisciplined areas of his game. Although those concerns popped up in almost every game Worthy played, the Chiefs leaned into his explosive talent to maximize his impact. Worthy finished with nine total touchdowns (six receiving, three rushing).

Honorable mentions: Rome Odunze (Bears), Keon Coleman (Bills), Jalen McMillan (Buccaneers), Xavier Legette (Panthers), Troy Franklin (Broncos)

Slot receiver

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 2, No. 34)

In an exceptional wide receiver draft, the Chargers addressed their offensive line in the first round and trusted the depth of the class. And the strategy worked — Los Angeles traded up a few spots to secure McConkey, whom many around the league believed would be a first-rounder.

McConkey finished with the ninth-most receiving yards (1,149) among all wide receivers and showed off his shiftiness after the catch (14 forced missed tackles). Despite two fumbles, he was one of the most reliable rookies (74.8 percent reception rate when targeted). Most importantly, McConkey stayed healthy, missing just one game.

Second team: Devaughn Vele, Denver Broncos (Round 7, No. 235)

I don’t think many predicted Vele to have the same number of receiving touchdowns as Deebo Samuel, Puka Nacua or George Pickens. But he found a home in Denver and took advantage of his playing time. With 70 percent of his snaps coming in the slot, Vele finished with 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns.

Honorable mentions: Jalen Coker (Panthers), Ricky Pearsall (49ers), Malik Washington (Dolphins)

Tight end

Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 1, No. 13)

The easiest decision on this All-Rookie team, Bowers had arguably the best debut season for a tight end in NFL history.

Despite the Raiders’ below-average quarterback play, Bowers led all NFL tight ends in catches (112), receiving yards (1,194) and first-down grabs (58) and finished second in catches of 20-plus yards (15). He broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end, and his drops were rare (three on 139 targets). Bowers’ touchdown total (five) doesn’t match the rest of his production, but that is more a reflection of the team than the player.

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Second Team: AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 121)

There was a massive gap between Bowers and the next-best rookie tight end. Barner gets the nod because he was reliable catching the football and solid as a blocker. He finished with 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns, joining Bowers as the only rookie tight ends with multiple TDs.

Honorable mentions: Ja’Tavion Sanders (Panthers), Theo Johnson (Giants), Erick All (Bengals), Cade Stover (Texans)

Offensive tackle

Joe Alt, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 1, No. 5); JC Latham, Tennessee Titans (Round 1, No. 7)

The Chargers passed on Nabers, but I don’t know many who believe they made the wrong choice. That is how good Alt has been.

He is incredibly consistent with his steps, hands and body movements to frame up rushers and win with leverage. And he is doing all this at a position he hadn’t played before this season. This is going to sound hyperbolic, but based on Alt’s performance and development, it wouldn’t be surprising if he ascends to be the league’s top right tackle at some point the next few seasons.

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While Alt moved from the left side to the right, Latham made the reverse transition and played well in his first season at left tackle. It was far from perfect, and he had understandable struggles for a rookie, but Tennessee can feel comfortable it has its long-term left tackle.

Second Team: Taliese Fuaga, New Orleans Saints (Round 1, No. 14); Roger Rosengarten, Baltimore Ravens (Round 2, No. 62)

Unsurprisingly, Fuaga was the only rookie tackle close to Alt as a run blocker. And his improvements in pass pro at left tackle over the final month were encouraging (see his tapes vs. the Commanders and Buccaneers). Similarly, Rosengarten was outstanding as a pass blocker at right tackle over the final two months (10 pressures and one sack allowed in his final eight starts).

Honorable mentions: Olu Fashanu (Jets), Amarius Mims (Bengals), Brandon Coleman (Commanders), DJ Glaze (Raiders), Tyler Guyton (Cowboys), Matt Goncalves (Colts)

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Who are top NFL Draft prospects in CFP semis? Which players have most to gain?

Guard

Dominick Puni, San Francisco 49ers (Round 3, No. 86); Jackson Powers-Johnson, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 2, No. 44)

There were 25 offensive linemen drafted before Puni, but he would be one of the first offensive linemen off the board if a redraft happened today. Not only did Puni play at a high level for a rookie, especially in the run game, he was reliable, starting all 17 games and leading his team in snaps played.

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Powers-Johnson got a late start this season due to injury and went through his share of hiccups early. But he improved as the season progressed and his confidence increased, which allowed him to lean on his movement skills and physicality. His versatility was a strong selling point, and he showed that with eight starts at guard and six at center.

Second Team: Mason McCormick, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 4, No. 119); Layden Robinson, New England Patriots (Round 4, No. 103)

McCormick had a few “welcome to the league” moments (see his tape vs. the Ravens), but there were more positive moments in his debut season, as he started the final 14 games. Robinson wasn’t nearly as consistent, but the positive flashes — especially after he moved to left guard — were encouraging.

Honorable mentions: Dalton Tucker (Colts), Isaiah Adams (Cardinals), Christian Mahogany (Lions), Jordan Morgan (Packers)

Center

Zach Frazier, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 2, No. 51)

As good as Alt and Puni have been, there is a strong case to be made that Frazier was the top first-year offensive linemen. Although his length and athleticism are more solid than exceptional, he already looks like a veteran with his strength at contact and ability to outmaneuver defenders. I think people get tired of hearing about wrestling backgrounds for offensive linemen, but with Frazier, you can clearly see how his skills on the mat translate to the NFL.

Second Team: Graham Barton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 1, No. 26)

In most years, Barton would have been a shoo-in for the top rookie center. He seemed to have at least one penalty a game, an area of his game which needs to improve (flags were an issue for him in college, too). But Tampa has to be thrilled with his development.

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Honorable mentions: Tanor Bortolini (Colts), Cooper Beebe (Cowboys), Beaux Limmer (Rams)

Edge rusher

Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams (Round 1, No. 19); Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins (Round 1, No. 21)

Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and Jonathan Greenard are the only players who created more pressures this season than Verse (77). To put that number in perspective, only Nick Bosa had more pressures as a rookie over the last dozen years. When Von Miller won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2011, he averaged 4.4 pressures per game; Verse averaged 4.5 this season.

Robinson’s impact was more gradual. After tallying 14 pressures over the first eight games, he accounted for 42 over the second half of the season to finish with 56 — three more than T.J. Watt.

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Second Team: Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts (Round 1, No. 15); Jonah Elliss, Denver Broncos (Round 3, No. 76)

As the first defensive player drafted, Latu had a bit of a disappointing season with just four sacks. But he led all rookies with three forced fumbles and showed enough promise off the bench that the Colts can be excited about a sophomore jump. Elliss, who finished third among rookies with five sacks, proved to be a quality subpackage rusher.

Honorable mentions: Chris Braswell (Buccaneers), Dallas Turner (Vikings), Marshawn Kneeland (Cowboys), Austin Booker (Bears), Javon Solomon (Bills), Jalyx Hunt (Eagles)

Defensive tackle

Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams (Round 2, No. 39); T’Vondre Sweat, Tennessee Titans (Round 2, No. 38)

Fiske finished as the rookie leader in sacks (8.5) and collected 51 pressures, three behind Quinnen Williams. He always had the twitchy urgency and quickness to make an impact in the NFL, but the continued development with his hands was awesome to see.

Selected one spot before Fiske, Sweat generally was viewed as a potential first-round pick based on size and ability, but questions about his weight and off-field consistency removed him from several boards. The Titans rolled the dice and, so far, that gamble has paid off. Sweat might never be a playmaker as a pass rusher, but he destroys gaps in the run game and has better range than his 360-pound size would suggest.

Second Team: Byron Murphy II, Seattle Seahawks (Round 1, No. 16); Jer’Zhan Newton, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 36)

Injuries robbed us of seeing Murphy at full-go, but the flashes were enough to explain why he was so coveted in the draft. The same could be said about Newton, who started slow but has been a welcome part of the Commanders’ defensive line rotation.

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Honorable mentions: Elijah Chatman (Giants), Mike Hall Jr. (Browns), Kris Jenkins (Bengals), Evan Anderson (49ers), Leonard Taylor III (Jets), Jonah Laulu (Raiders), Maason Smith (Jaguars), DeWayne Carter (Bills)

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NFL 2025 mock draft, picks 1-18: What should non-playoff teams do in Round 1?

Linebacker

First team: Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay Packers (Round 2, No. 45); Payton Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (Round 3, No. 98)

Part of Cooper’s appeal as a prospect was his do-everything skill set, which was on full display this season. Despite missing a few games, he led all rookies with 13.0 tackles for loss (No. 2 among all NFL off-ball linebackers). After he returned from injury, Cooper played like one of the best defenders — not just rookie defenders — in the league.

Wilson had a terrific year, too, defending the run, dropping in coverage and blitzing the pocket. Most importantly, he stayed healthy for all 17 regular-season games and was one of the Steelers’ best coverage players on kicks and punts (300 special-teams snaps).

Second Team: Tyrice Knight, Seattle Seahawks (Round 4, No. 118); Omar Speights, Los Angeles Rams (undrafted)

An off-and-on starter, Knight led all rookie linebackers in tackles (88) — not too surprising, considering he had 140 tackles last season at UTEP. He plays like a rabid dog against the run, with the instincts and play personality that directly lead to production. Speights ranked top 20 in the NFL with 60 tackles over the final two months of the season. He also has the lowest missed-tackle rate (5.7 percent) among rookie linebackers.

Honorable mentions: Trevin Wallace (Panthers), Marist Liufau (Cowboys), Jaylon Carlies (Colts), Junior Colson (Chargers), Winston Reid (Browns), Darius Muasau (Giants)

Cornerback

Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1, No. 22); Mike Sainristil, Washington Commanders (Round 2, No. 50)

Chase, CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, Terry McLaurin, Nabers — Mitchell faced some of the NFL’s best wide receivers and more than held his own. Despite not registering an interception (he had his chances), his snap-to-snap consistency made him the league’s most impressive first-year cornerback. Over the final 12 games, Mitchell allowed more than 35 receiving yards in a game just once. He also finished with 12 passes defended.

The second outside corner spot was much more competitive, but Sainristil gets the edge. He led all rookies with 14 passes defended and committed just two penalties, despite leading all first-year players in defensive snaps played (978). His competitiveness in coverage and against the run jumped off the screen — he finished with 93 tackles, second most among rookies.

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Second Team: Nate Wiggins, Baltimore Ravens (Round 1, No. 30); Kamari Lassiter, Houston Texans (Round 2, No. 42); Tarheeb Still, Los Angeles Chargers (Round 5, No. 137)

With his pick six in Week 18, Wiggins finished his rookie campaign with more touchdowns than touchdowns allowed. The only rookie corner to allow a lower reception rate than Wiggins was Lassiter (47.8 percent of targets resulting in a catch). And I couldn’t leave off Still, who finished second among rookies with four interceptions while posting 10 passes defended and committing just one penalty.

Honorable mentions: Terrion Arnold (Lions), Renardo Green (49ers), Josh Newton (Bengals), Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (Titans), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Saints), Max Melton (Cardinals), Kris Abrams-Draine (Broncos)

Nickel cornerback

Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles (Round 2, No. 40)

After missing most of the first five weeks, DeJean entered the Eagles’ starting lineup and played like one of the best nickels in the league. You could make a strong argument that he was the best run defender among all first-year players, and he didn’t allow a touchdown on 71 coverage targets. Add his impact on special teams, and DeJean has been a home run for Philadelphia — especially for a second-rounder.

Second Team: Andru Phillips, New York Giants (Round 3, No. 70); Tykee Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Round 3, No. 89)

Phillips was an outstanding run defender this season and flashed in coverage. One of the concerns with him as a prospect was that he produced zero interceptions in 38 career games at Kentucky, so his first career NFL interception in Week 17 great to see. Despite missing four games due to injury, Smith finished his rookie season as one of only five NFL players with at least three forced fumbles and two interceptions — he was the first rookie to post those numbers since 2018.

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Honorable mentions: Beanie Bishop Jr. (Steelers), Jarrian Jones (Jaguars), Chau Smith-Wade (Panthers), Christian Roland-Wallace (Chiefs)

Safety

Calen Bullock, Houston Texans (Round 3, No. 78); Tyler Nubin, New York Giants (Round 2, No. 47)

In a lot of ways, Bullock lived up exactly to his scouting report — both the good and the volatile. With his range in coverage, he led all rookies in interceptions (five) and allowed just 42.3 percent receptions when targeted. However, his questionable play strength was an issue, especially as a run defender. Despite the hiccups, Bullock proved to be an integral part of DeMeco Ryans’ defense, playing almost 1,000 snaps.

Nubin led all rookies in tackles (98), even though he missed four games. One of the reasons the Giants drafted him in the top 50 was his ball production in college (13 career interceptions), but he didn’t record an interception and registered just one pass breakup as a rookie — those numbers will need to improve next season.

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Second Team: Evan Williams, Green Bay Packers (Round 4, No. 111); Kamren Kinchens, Los Angeles Rams (Round 3, No. 99)

If he hadn’t missed five games (and parts of others) due to injury, Williams likely would have made the first team. Regardless, he had a much better season than anyone anticipated, and the Packers can feel optimistic about their free safety situation moving forward. Kinchens allowed four touchdown passes this season, but he posted four interceptions and led all rookies in interception yards (123).

Honorable mentions: Malik Mustapha (49ers), Javon Bullard (Packers), Demani Richardson (Panthers), Jaylen McCollough (Rams), Cole Bishop (Bills), Jaden Hicks (Chiefs), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (Cardinals), Dell Pettus (Patriots)

Kicker

Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars (Round 6, No. 212)

Second Team: Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings (Round 6, No. 203), Joshua Karty, Los Angeles Rams (Round 6, No. 209)

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Punter

Tory Taylor, Chicago Bears (Round 4, No. 122)

Second Team: Ryan Rehkow, Cincinnati Bengals (undrafted); Matthew Hayball, New Orleans Saints (undrafted)

(Top photos of Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers: Kara Durrette, Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

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Women’s rights groups call on Donald Trump to demand NCAA change trans athlete policies

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January 10, 2025

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Women’s rights groups call on Donald Trump to demand NCAA change trans athlete policies

A coalition of women’s advocacy organizations have called on President-elect Donald Trump to demand the NCAA change its policies regarding trans athletes in women’s sports. 

Our Bodies, Our Sports, the first and only coalition of women’s advocacy organizations fighting for fairness in women’s sports in the country, issued a letter to the president-elect requesting that he use his influence to have the NCAA take action “to protect the rights and opportunities of collegiate female athletes,” a press release read. 

“We write now to ask you to also use your powerful voice to urge the NCAA to take action and clarify participation rules to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes,” the letter read, in part.

President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks during a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Oct. 15, 2024 in Atlanta. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

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“The NCAA’s controversial and unscientific Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy continues to allow men to participate in women’s sports – taking away women’s opportunities to compete, roster spots on teams, medals, and safe and fair competition,” the release read. 

This letter to the president-elect comes ahead of the 2025 NCAA Convention, which takes place from Jan. 14-17 in Nashville, Tennessee. The week is filled with issues, forums, business sessions and award presentations. 

The letter also comes after a federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to redefine sex in Title IX as “gender identity,” striking it down nationwide. 

FEDERAL JUDGE STRIKES DOWN BIDEN ADMIN’S TITLE IX REWRITE

The ruling came in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky Northern Division in Cardona v. Tennessee on Tuesday. 

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Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti celebrated the ruling with a post on X. “Another massive win for TN and the country!” the post read. “This morning, a federal court ruled in our favor and vacated the Biden admin’s radical new Title IX rule nationwide.

“The court’s order is resounding victory for the protection of girls’ privacy in locker rooms and showers, and for the freedom to speak biologically-accurate pronouns.”

NCAA logo on basketball court

The NCAA logo is displayed on center court as work continues at The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh for the NCAA college basketball tournament on March 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

The Supreme Court has previously rejected the Biden administration’s emergency request to enforce parts of a new rule that would have included protection from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX. 

As for the NCAA’s current transgender participation policy, it allows trans athletes to play in a “sport-by-sport approach,” which “preserves opportunity for transgender student-athletes while balancing fairness, inclusion and safety for all who compete.” The governing body says its policy aligns with that of the “Olympic Movement.”

Part of the NCAA’s policy requires transgender student-athletes to provide documentation that meets the 2010 NCAA policy, plus meet the sport standard for documented testosterone levels at three points in time: Prior to competition during regular season, prior to the first competition in an NCAA championship and prior to any competition in the “non-championship segment.”

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Our Bodies, Our Sports consists of the following member organizations: Independent Women’s Forum, Independent Council on Women’s Sports, Women’s Declaration International USA, Champion Women, International Consortium on Female Sport, Concerned Women for America, Women’s Liberation Front, Independent Women’s Law Center, Young Women for America, Independent Women’s Voice, and Independent Women’s Network.

Trump mar-a-lago

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

“We stand together in honor of the generations of women who came before us and in defense of all the women and girls who will come next,” the letter to Trump ends. “We ask for your help in demanding that the NCAA finally act to restore fairness and opportunity in collegiate sports and we thank you for standing with us.”

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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Shaikin: Polymarket shouldn't allow people to profit by betting on the L.A. firestorm

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5 hours ago

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January 10, 2025

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Shaikin: Polymarket shouldn't allow people to profit by betting on the L.A. firestorm

In our sporting corner of the world, betting is everywhere.

Consider Major League Baseball: The league has official gaming partners, the broadcast home of its “Sunday Night Baseball” showcase boasts an official sportsbook, and the Dodgers’ World Series celebration was sponsored by a local resort and casino. On the television screen, the bottom line provides updates on odds as well as scores.

You can bet on the next pitch, the next home run, the next game, the next World Series. You might enjoy betting on sports, or you might disdain it.

Betting on tragedy? Profiting off the pain of our community? We all should condemn that.

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Polymarket, which bills itself as a “prediction market,” invited you as of Thursday to stake some bucks on 18 questions related to the Southern California wildfires, including these: How many acres will the Palisades wildfire burn by Friday? Will the Palisades wildfire spread to Santa Monica by Sunday? When will the Palisades wildfire be 50% contained? Will all L.A. wildfires be fully contained before February?

“My guess,” said Nathaniel Fast, director of the USC Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making, “is that most people don’t like the idea of individuals betting on or making money off disasters and catastrophes.”

Polymarket aims to set the chance of something happening, then harness collective opinion to adjust that probability in real time.

For instance, with the chance of the Palisades wildfire being 50% contained by Jan. 19 set at 86% on Thursday, you would take “yes” and could win $102 or would take “no” and could win $571. The market adjusts the chance, and in turn the chance adjusts the market.

In a statement to The Times, a Polymarket spokesman said: “These markets address the same questions being discussed across cable news and X. We’ve proven that prediction markets can be an invaluable alternative information source for those seeking real-time quantitative data.”

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Said Fast: “I have a hard time imagining that people are logging onto Polymarket to decide whether or not to evacuate.

“On the other hand, though, if they are able to demonstrate repeatedly in events like this that they really can generate accurate forecasts, I think it’s possible that, in the future, this could prove to be a useful tool.”

In the torrent of social media misinformation generated by an event and its immediate aftermath, prediction markets driven in part by social media run a risk of their own.

On its site, Polymarket says this is one criterion for the company opening a prediction market: “Is there social good or news value in understanding the probability generated by the market?”

Said Fast: “It could create the incentive to influence events or, in the case of wildfires, it could lead to a callous attitude toward others’ suffering. If we are gamifying life-and-death issues, it could really negatively influence culture and society in a way we don’t like.”

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Polymarket offers odds on such topics as the NFL playoffs, whether Donald Trump will follow through on his pledge to impose 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, whether Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift get engaged this year, and how many times Elon Musk will tweet in a given week.

All good. But this is not the first time Polymarket has used disaster as the basis for investment.

In 2023, after the submersible Titan was lost at sea en route to the Titanic, Polymarket asked: “Will the missing submarine be found by June 23?” Mother Jones found two investors, one who bet yes and one who bet no.

“Despite taking opposite sides of the bet, thanks to clever playing of the odds,” Mother Jones reported, “both … came away with thousands of dollars.”

Polymarket does not. According to the company spokesperson, Polymarket “does not charge fees on any market and currently does not generate any revenue.”

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That might be the only thing worse than a company profiting off human misfortune: a tech startup enabling lots of people to profit off human misfortune.

The Polymarket statement to The Times started this way: “We express our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by these fires and appreciate the heroic work underway by first responders and everyday Angelenos.”

The statement is hollow so long as people still can stake their dollars on the calamities befalling everyday Angelenos. Polymarket should take down those wildfire odds. Those six historic words from 1954 ring true today: Have you no sense of decency?

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