Brandon Clarke died from heroin, cocaine effects, examiner rules

England fast bowler John Turner has announced his shock retirement from professional cricket at the age of 25, bringing the curtain down on a promising five-year career. Turner, who represented England in two ODIs and two T20Is in 2024, made the difficult decision after a prolonged battle with injuries kept him away from professional cricket since June last year. The Hampshire fast bowler suffered a stress fracture in his back, an injury that forced him to spend more than a year on the sidelines. Despite having two years remaining on his Hampshire contract and holding an England and Wales Cricket Board development contract until the end of last year, Turner decided that it was time to move on. Explaining his decision, Turner said the repeated injuries had made him think seriously about his future both as a cricketer and beyond the sport. “Playing professional and international cricket was always my dream,” Turner said, describing representing Hampshire and England as the fulfilment of childhood ambitions. He admitted that retirement was one of the toughest decisions of his life but said he believed it was the right moment to take on a new challenge. Turner made his first-class debut for Hampshire in 2021 and described his five years with the club as the best period of his life. He also thanked Hampshire’s management, coaches, teammates and supporters for their unwavering backing. His retirement brings a surprisingly early end to the career of a bowler who had once earned an international opportunity at just 23.

Sri Lanka’s athletics scene has a new rising star. At just 23, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has established himself as one of the most exciting young javelin throwers in the world. Tharanga’s remarkable 2026 season has already included a 92.62-metre national record, a Commonwealth Games gold medal, multiple Diamond League victories and a World Championships final appearance. His latest achievement came at the Lausanne Diamond League, where he edged India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra by just nine centimetres. From cricket to javelin Born on March 21, 2003, in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, Tharanga initially dreamed of making a career in cricket. He developed into a promising fast bowler and reportedly reached speeds of around 134 kilometres per hour as a teenager. His father’s involvement in throwing events eventually encouraged him to explore athletics. Tharanga first tried discus before turning his attention to javelin while studying at St Peter’s College in Colombo. His cricket background helped him develop explosive movement, speed and coordination — qualities that later became important parts of his javelin technique. Rapid rise in athletics Tharanga represented Sri Lanka at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships, gaining valuable international experience. By 2025, he had moved beyond the status of a promising prospect. He became the first Sri Lankan male javelin thrower to reach a World Athletics Championships final and finished seventh with a throw of 84.38 metres. His progress accelerated dramatically the following year. Breaking the 90-metre mark At the Rome Diamond League in 2026, Tharanga produced the biggest throw of his career, sending the javelin 92.62 metres. The effort set a new Sri Lankan national record and placed him among the world’s elite throwers. It also put him close to Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, whose 92.97-metre throw won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Crossing the 90-metre barrier marked a major milestone. Tharanga had firmly established himself as a serious contender at the highest level of international javelin. Commonwealth Games champion Tharanga carried that momentum into the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he faced a star-studded field that included Chopra, Nadeem, Anderson Peters and Keshorn Walcott. He produced a huge 89.75-metre throw to claim the gold medal. Chopra finished second, while India’s Yash Vir Singh secured bronze. The victory gave Sri Lanka a major javelin success and further raised Tharanga’s profile on the international stage. Narrow win over Neeraj Chopra The rivalry with Chopra continued at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21. Tharanga opened the competition with an 85.99-metre throw before improving to 87.06 metres with his second attempt. Chopra responded with an 88.05-metre throw, his season’s best at the time, and briefly moved into first place. Tharanga answered immediately. His third attempt travelled 88.14 metres, putting him back in the lead and securing the victory. The nine-centimetre margin highlighted just how closely matched the two athletes were. Lausanne Diamond League standings: 1. 🇱🇰 Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage — 88.14m 2. 🇮🇳 Neeraj Chopra — 88.05m 3. 🇬🇩 Anderson Peters — 86.69m 4. 🇹🇹 Keshorn Walcott — 83.71m 5. 🇺🇸 Marc Anthony Minichello — 80.06m The Lausanne victory added another important chapter to Tharanga’s breakthrough season and strengthened his position among the leading javelin throwers in the world. A new South Asian rivalry For years, South Asian javelin focused largely on the rivalry between Chopra and Nadeem. Tharanga’s rapid emergence has added another major contender from the region. His 92.62-metre national record demonstrates his enormous throwing ability, while his Commonwealth Games gold and Diamond League victories show that he can perform when the pressure is highest. At only 23, Tharanga still has considerable room to develop. Sri Lanka’s rising athletics star Tharanga’s success carries significance beyond javelin. Sri Lanka has long enjoyed a strong sporting identity through cricket, but his achievements are bringing renewed attention to the country’s athletics programme. His journey from teenage fast bowler to Commonwealth champion and Diamond League winner also highlights the unpredictable paths that can lead athletes to international success. With a 92.62-metre personal best, major titles already on his record and growing experience against the world’s best, Tharanga appears to have established himself as one of the leading young names in men’s javelin. At 23, his biggest achievements may still lie ahead.

LOS ANGELES: Austin Reaves has just secured a massive new contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his long-term future in Hollywood could still become a major talking point after the franchise made sweeping changes to its roster this summer. The Lakers have entered a new era with their focus increasingly centred on Luka Doncic, while the departure of LeBron James has changed the shape and direction of the team. Reaves, meanwhile, remains an important part of the Lakers’ plans. The 28-year-old guard re-signed with Los Angeles in late June on a four-year, $180 million contract, including a player option in the final season. The deal appeared to confirm that the Lakers viewed Reaves as a key piece alongside Doncic. His contract also reportedly gives Los Angeles greater financial flexibility moving forward, including the possibility of pursuing another player with the non-taxpayer mid-level exception next summer. But the Lakers’ subsequent move for centre Walker Kessler has complicated the picture. Los Angeles acquired Kessler from the Utah Jazz in July, reportedly committing significant draft capital in the process. The move reflects the Lakers’ desire to secure a long-term defensive presence in the frontcourt, but it also reduced the number of valuable assets available to the franchise. That situation has prompted NBA insider Zach Lowe to raise an intriguing possibility: Reaves could eventually become a trade candidate. Lowe argued that the Lakers paid heavily for Kessler and now have fewer tradeable assets with which to reshape the roster. “There’s no question that they overpaid for him,” Lowe said, suggesting the Lakers may eventually have to decide whether the current roster is good enough or whether they need to pivot by moving Reaves. The logic behind the speculation is straightforward. Doncic is now firmly positioned as the franchise cornerstone, making it highly unlikely that Los Angeles would consider moving him. Reaves, however, could command significant interest around the league if the Lakers eventually decide they need additional draft capital or another major piece. That does not mean a trade is imminent. In fact, Reaves could be more important to the Lakers than ever during the upcoming season. With James no longer in the picture, the team will need additional scoring, playmaking and leadership around Doncic. Reaves has already demonstrated that he can thrive in a high-pressure environment, evolving from an undrafted player into one of the Lakers’ most valuable contributors. His new contract suggests the organisation believes he can play an important role in its next chapter. Yet NBA roster building can change quickly. If the Lakers struggle to build a championship-calibre supporting cast around Doncic, Reaves’ value could become a tempting trade asset — particularly because the team has already sacrificed considerable draft capital to acquire Kessler. For now, Reaves remains a Laker and an important part of the franchise’s post-LeBron era. But with Doncic at the centre, Kessler anchoring the future frontcourt and the Lakers’ trade assets significantly reduced, one question is beginning to emerge: Could Austin Reaves ultimately become the price Los Angeles pays to build its next championship team?