Liberty Media will reportedly reveal Formula 1's engine regulations for '21 on Oct. 31, "with a first draft of a budget cap" following on Nov. 7. FIA and Formula One Management "have worked together on the new engine regulations," with the likes of Aston Martin and Porsche waiting to see if the new rules will "tempt them" to join F1 as power unit suppliers (FOX SPORTS, 10/10).
Former professional athletes who suffer concussions "are more likely to report mental health problems than those who do not," according to new research. It revealed those who had four or five concussions during their career "were 1.5 times more likely to have anxiety, depression or sleep disturbance." The FIFPro study questioned 576 former top-flight footballers, ice hockey and rugby players from eight countries. Its author said that concussion management can be improved by "educating players" (BBC, 10/9).
Players will not automatically be sent to the sin bin for throwing a punch during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup as they are in the National Rugby League. While punching "comes under the banner of striking, which is deemed an act of misconduct, there is no hard and fast rule for how it should be punished." Instead, it will be "left to the interpretation" of World Cup match officials to determine if and how players will be sanctioned, whether by a penalty, sin bin or even a send-off (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/9).
Plans to introduce a new caps rule designed to encourage Welsh int'ls to continue playing in Wales have reportedly been "regularly discussed in recent months by the Welsh Rugby Union." Wales player Rhys Webb announced last week he will leave Pro14 side Ospreys at the end of the season "to move overseas." The discussions are believed to pre-date the news of Webb's departure and aim to explore "all potential ways of retaining Wales' best players in the Pro14 among the four regions" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/9).
The British Horseracing Authority reportedly plans to conduct a review of the buying and selling of racehorses in Britain and "will solicit opinions from the bloodstock industry about possible dubious practices." The BHA wrote to leading stakeholders with its concerns about evidence of “unsatisfactory” experiences for owners. Its letter, dated Aug. 4, said it wants to see “fair, transparent and responsible practices in place to remove significant actual and perceived barriers to new owners” joining the sport (LONDON TIMES, 10/10).
