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After removing the position of head of sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, the FIA, the sport’s governing body, fired the most senior member in a string of senior figures.

As she left the FIA on Wednesday, Sara Mariani wrote a note that appeared to criticize the organization’s leadership.

There is a life outside the FIA, Mariani, who had been in charge of sustainability, diversity, and inclusion for just 18 months, wrote in an office email. a life that rewards hard work and perseverance. where women who hold leadership positions can prosper, feel valued, and respected.

As part of a two-part internal restructuring, which split her responsibilities, her role was eliminated.

Prior to Mariani’s departure, the organization announced in a statement that it was moving from Alessandra Malhame, senior human resources director, to sustainability, Willem Groenewald, and Alessandra Malhame, secretary general for mobility.

The FIA’s general manager, Alberto Villareal, predicted that the move would “strengthen our capabilities across these two crucial areas.”

Mariani’s availability for comment.

She continued, “It is sadly time to say goodbye.” I enjoyed every second of the ride.

Mariani took over the position in December of that year after being hired for an eight-month period until 2023.

Following a period of review, the FIA made the announcement to remove her role, according to a statement from the FIA.

Villareal claimed that “we can have a bigger impact by collaborating more closely with our members on issues like sustainable fuel, smart cities, and diversity in sport.”

The statement did not describe how bringing sustainability under the mobility umbrella would help to achieve this. Mobility, which deals with road transportation, and motorsport, are the two divisions of the FIA.

The FIA is proud that 32% of our workforce is women in a male-dominated sector, and that it is committed to expanding opportunities for women within the organization, as well as across mobility and motorsport, in the statement.

Nearly half (47%) of the nearly 100 women employed by the FIA hold positions in senior positions, according to a spokesperson.

Emilia Abel, the world’s first female official F1 starter, and Rebecca Lee, the head of single-seat operations, are just two examples.

Mariani is the second significant FIA figure to step down this year following Robert Reid’s resignation as deputy president of sport in April.

And it is the start of a trend that Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is currently unopposed, is pursuing under his presidency.

The FIA’s chief executive officer Natalie Robyn, F1 race director Niels Wittich, senior F1 steward Tim Mayer, and deputy Formula 2 race director Janette Tan have all been fired by Sulayem in the past year.

These detours come in response to Sulayem’s series of FIA statute changes, which critics claim weaken accountability, promote good governance, and strengthen the president’s authority.

One opponent referred to the most recent changes as “dark periods of democratic backsliding,” as they were approved by the FIA General Assembly last week with a sizable majority.

Since his election, Sulayem has been the subject of a number of controversy, including misogynistic remarks on a historical website.

Sulayem cited his establishment of the FIA’s commission for equality, diversity, and inclusion as proof of his strong track record on the subject when attempting to justify those assertions in December 2023.

First Test between England and India

Venue: Headingley Dates: 20-24 June Time: 11: 00 BST

After the batter scored 171 against Zimbabwe last month, England’s captain, Ben Stokes, claims, would have been “remarkable” to switch Ollie Pope for Jacob Bethell.

Prior to the first Test against India on Friday at Headingley, England made the important selection decision between vice-captain Pope and 21-year-old Bethell.

Despite Bethell’s impressive performance in that position after making his New Zealand debut last year, England opted to keep Pope at number three.

According to Stokes, “the ‘big selection’idea’ did not originate from us.”

During Jamie Smith’s paternity leave, Bethell had a chance to play at number three when Pope took the wicketkeeper’s place and moved down the order.

Bethell missed the Test against Zimbabwe because he was participating in the Indian Premier League, but he did so with half-centuries in each of New Zealand’s three Tests.

Pope scored his seventh Test hundred in the role, returning to Stokes’ position as captain in 2022, and averages 43.06 at first drop despite also returning a number of low scores in the process.

“In today’s world, it’s very difficult to ignore all the speculation and stuff that’s happening because things are so readily accessible. Nowadays, you don’t even need to go and look for it, Stokes claimed.

The start of the eagerly awaited five-match series against India marks the start of a 10-test run that will determine Stokes’ captaincy reign as captain with an Ashes series in Australia set to debut in the winter.

However, Stokes was determined to disprove any notion that England would be interested in playing India against Australia.

He said, “We will come to that when we come to that, but for us right now, it’s about focusing on these five games that we’ve got coming up against India.”

With England winning four and losing four of their previous eight games, the series also comes at a fascinating time for Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Although their aggressive approach has led to remarkable highs in their first year in charge of West Indies, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, their series victories have also been weighed down by terrible defeats.

According to Stokes, the group has engaged in “honest discussions” about potential improvements.

According to Stokes, “I don’t believe that the defensive frame of mind is the best way to put it.”

“I believe it’s just being smarter in those situations where it’s obvious that the opposition is controlling us at that particular moment and that they have the upper hand.”

The former legendary players Sachin Tendulkar and James Anderson will be the recipients of the new Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The Pataudi Trophy, which is named in honor of the Pataudi family, is no longer the trophy.

It’s a fantastic feeling, Endulkar remarked to the BBC. I was thrilled when I learned about the award.

“I can recall talking to the Pataudi family and talking to my family about this.

It’s all about Test cricket, which is the most difficult format, and I think it’s a reflection of what Jimmy and I have been able to do for our country in Test cricket, not just me.

It’s pretty surreal, Anderson said.

“You don’t start playing cricket until things like this happen,” says Sachin, “but when they do happen, it’s lovely when they do.”

Numerous fighters have demanded Jon Jones’ title be stripped of because the future of the UFC heavyweight division is still uncertain.

American Jones lost to Tom Aspinall, the interim champion of the United Kingdom, in a November fight that he did not defend against Stipe Miocic.

Although Aspinall, 32, has been in the interim belt for 18 months, despite numerous requests for a fight between Jones and Jones, no unification has yet been announced.

Dana White, the promotion’s president, claims Jones has been trying to finalize the fight, teasing Aspinall on social media and making retirement hints.

American Curtis Blaydes argued that Jones should win the title before his heavyweight fight this weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan.

I would like him stripped if he doesn’t fight. It is shared by everyone. What are you doing while holding the belt if you’re not going to be active? He’s the GOAT, he’s great? Blaydes remarked.

I understand what he’s doing, he says. He finds this enjoyable. He enjoys hearing about his name. I’ve already gotten past it.

Risvan Kuniev, Blaydes’ rival, echoed his sentiments, calling for Jones to be stripped and calling Aspinall the “true champion.”

White would describe the potential matchup as the “biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history.”

Former light-heavyweight champion and regarded as one of, if not the best, greatest MMA fighters of all time, Jones, 37, is one of the best.

He holds the record for most title fight victories in the UFC with 16 wins, one loss, and one no-contest overall.

In contrast, Aspinall has won eight of his UFC fights, including the shortest fight-time average in the organization’s history, two minutes and two seconds.

The UFC are attempting to arrange for the fight to take place in Las Vegas in December and New York in November.

The only issue is Jones, despite Aspinall wanting the fight.

Jones has not apologised, calling out former champion Francis Ngannou and suggesting that he is retired. He claims that fighting Aspinall is “nothing for his legacy”.

Aspinall would become the first Briton to unite the UFC heavyweight division if Jones were stripped or forced to close out his distinguished career as he has suggested.

Aspinall’s interim title fight against Sergei Pavlovich, which is the longest in UFC history, came after 586 days.

Renan Barao, a former interim bantamweight champion, held the belt for 534 days, breaking previous records.

Although Aspinall has repeatedly requested a fight with Jones, he has stated that he is happy with the American because he wants to become the undisputed champion.

Aspinall was described by White as “the man” earlier this month, and he claimed the Briton’s next fight will be a fight for undisputed title.

Ciryl Gane from France is most likely to face Aspinall for the belt if Aspinall is promoted to the undisputed heavyweight champion.

The 35-year-old was an interim champion before losing to Ngannou in 2022 and Jones the following year.

Gane has won two fights and moved up to second place in the UFC heavyweight rankings since Jones’ defeat.

Prior to this, Aspinall had demanded a fight with Gane, but that was a failure.

Alexander Volkov from Russia and Brazilian Jailton Almeida, both of whom have the potential to face Aspinall, have been training with the potential to fight either.

Volkov, 36, fell to Aspinall in 2022, placing third in the heavyweight rankings.

He has won four of his last five fights, but Gane narrowly lost to him in December.

On a three-year contract, Bristol City have chosen Gerhard Struber as their new head coach.

Liam Manning’s predecessor left Ashton Gate for fellow Championship side Norwich City, and the 48-year-old Austrian has joined them.

The Robins reached the play-offs last year, the first time the team had finished in the top six of the second tier in 17 years.

Before stints at New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg, and Cologne, Struber served as Barnsley’s manager for the 2019-20 season.

“This style of play perfectly fits our developmentally young players.”

After serving as Barnsley manager for 11 months, Struber will take over as manager of Bristol City.

In November 2019, Struber led the Tykes to their eventual survival on the final day of the championship, leaving them at the bottom of the table.

He left to take over as the New York Red Bulls’ head coach and most recently as Köln’s manager.

With only two games left, the German club was three points clear of the automatic promotion spots, despite leading the German club to the point of being promoted to the Bundesliga.

They then won the second game and were promoted. Two weeks later, Bundesliga title.

Struber also played for Austria under the age of 21 before beginning his coaching career there after retiring.

“We’ve changed our academy teams’ play to a high intensity, pressing style of play for the past four years, and we’ve also recruited younger players with those abilities for the first team,” according to Robins chairman Jon Lansdown.

Gerhard’s approach to this style of play is “perfect for this style of play,” and his enthusiasm for promoting the development of younger players is also a good fit for our club.

“I’m looking forward to working together to build on the progress the club has made,” said the club’s president.

Bristol City’s most successful campaign since 2008, when they finished sixth in the championship before being comfortably overtaken by Sheffield United in the play-offs with a score of 6-0 on aggregate.

BBC Radio Bristol’s Ed Hadwin:

Only the second-ever manager from mainland Europe, and only the second since Swede Benny Lennartsson’s brief but unsuccessful tenure at Ashton Gate, which ended in July 1999, is Gerhard Struber.

Before joining the City Football Group, where he oversaw teams in both New York and Salzburg, before spending time at Cologne, Struber’s only experience managing in England was in 2019-20, when he led Barnsley in the Championship.

After finishing sixth in the Championship, he is taking over a Robins squad that had had its best season in nearly 20 years.

They continue to add at least a few fresh faces to their senior players this summer, even though they haven’t lost any of them.