The Colorado Rapids have fired manager Anthony Hudson, with assistant coach Conor Casey taking over on an interim basis, the club announced on Wednesday.

"We appreciate Anthony's commitment to the Rapids organization during his time with the club," said Rapids executive vice president & GM, Padraig Smith "This is a pivotal period in the development of our team and it's in the club's best interest to make a change now. We still have a lot of season left and we look forward to getting back on track."

Carlisle: Don't worry about the Timbers, Portland finding form

With a record of 0-7-2, the Rapids are the only winless team in the league. This follows on from an 11th place finish in the 12-team Western Conference last season. The Rapids attempted to retool their offense during the offseason, bringing in the likes of midfielder Benny Feilhaber and forwards Diego Rubio and Kei Kamara, but the results have been poor, with the Rapids conceding a league-worst 24 goals in nine matches.

But what sealed Hudson's fate was a postmatch interview he gave following last weekend's 1-0 road defeat to Atlanta United, in which he pointed out the shortcomings of the Rapids' roster.

"Today was just another example of the real gulf in class," Hudson said. "I think every single game we're playing against teams and their DPs are making a difference. People think we are on the same level, we're not."

Hudson added: "If this was a promotion-and-relegation league, we'd have been relegated by now."

Hudson joined the Rapids following the 2017 campaign after a three-year stint as manager of the New Zealand men's national team, though his only prior experience managing at club level had been with American fourth-tier side Real Maryland Monarchs, and English non-league side Newport County. Hudson's overall record with Colorado was 8-27-9.

It will now be up to Casey, a former Rapids and U.S. international forward, to get the team back on track. He has been an assistant with Colorado for parts of the last three seasons.

Casey's playing career spanned 17 seasons, beginning in Germany with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Hannover 96, Karlsruher and Mainz 05. The remainder of his career was spent in MLS, six years of which were with Colorado, including a run to the 2010 MLS Cup title. He also spent time with Toronto FC, the Philadelphia Union and the Columbus Crew.

At international level, Casey made 19 appearances with the U.S. national team, scoring two goals.

The ECB is set to review the balance between player safeguarding and public disclosure in its policy regarding the use of recreational drugs, after conceding that the existing protocol has "failed its stress test" amid the fall-out from Alex Hales' banishment from the England World Cup squad.

On Monday, Hales' management team accused the ECB of placing player welfare "low on their list of priorities", after the board allegedly reneged on a commitment to uphold his selection in England's preliminary squad for the World Cup, in spite of the news breaking that he was serving a 21-day ban for a second failed drugs test.

Privately, however, the ECB has come to the conclusion that their existing policy, formulated in conjunction with the Professional Cricketers' Association, in fact puts too much emphasis on welfare, and leaves too little room for manoeuvre when the sport is confronted with the sort of high-profile case that is currently dominating the news agenda.

At the nub of the issue is the policy's existing focus on player confidentiality, a well-meaning attempt - in the wake of the death of Tom Maynard in 2012 - to protect the vulnerabilities of those who may be struggling with addiction, rather than risk exacerbating their problems through public exposure.

However, the provisions of this protocol have left the ECB exposed to accusations of a cover-up, given that Hales' situation would not have been made public at all but for the story emerging on The Guardian and ESPNcricinfo on Friday afternoon.

In fact, at the point of his second failed test, and the imposition of the 21-day ban, only Tom Harrison, the chief executive, and Ashley Giles, the managing director, were allowed to be made aware - the levels of secrecy surrounding his case were such that even England's head coach, Trevor Bayliss, had to learn of the situation through the media. ​

A PCA spokesman told ESPNcricinfo that the provisions of the policy were constantly under review, and that they had been amended twice since their adoption in 2013, most recently in March this year, to allow PCA welfare officers to become involved in any given case at the point of the first failed test.

However, the embarrassment for the ECB was heightened on Tuesday when their official website was found to be stating that a player's name could be made public after a second failed test. That has since been put down to human error, and amended, but not before adding to the perception of a governing body that is struggling to stay in control of the story.

Either way, sympathy for Hales - both at board level and among his team-mates - is in short supply, after a weekend training camp in Cardiff at which Hales reportedly missed his opportunity to apologise to the wider squad for actions which have undermined their preparations leading into England's most significant campaign in recent memory.

To date, his only public comments on the matter have been made through his management company, and the consensus within the camp would appear to be that Hales has exhausted the England squad's patience.

He is still serving a four-match suspended ban for his part in the brawl outside the Bristol nightclub in September 2017 that led to the arrest and subsequent trial of Ben Stokes - but unlike Stokes, who has attracted rave reviews from Bayliss for his commitment to training since being acquitted of affray in August last year, Hales' latest misjudgement seems to reveal a player with little inclination to learn from his mistakes.

It is understood that Hales' ban will elapse ahead of Nottinghamshire's Royal London Cup clash with Durham at Grantham on Friday, the same day that his team-mates play Ireland in the first ODI of the summer in Dublin. An assessment of his mental readiness is expected to be taken by Notts' head coach, Peter Moores, after the player himself was said to be left "devastated" by his England axing.

Play 02:55

MS Dhoni has hit 554 runs in 227 balls in the 20th over of an IPL match. That's 13% of all the runs he's ever made in this tournament. How does he do it?

"Watch the ball, hit the ball," the CSK captain told Star Sports after putting in a sensational performance to beat Delhi Capitals in their last home game of the 2019 season. "Also by that time, you've spent enough time to know what are the variations that are really working on that wicket, how is it coming onto the batsmen, whether you can play a few shots that are maybe not your stronger points. I think by 20th over you're almost ready and you swing at everything."

Dhoni's been especially aggressive this season, hitting 70 runs off 21 final-over deliveries. That translates to a strike-rate of 333. So it was fairly straightforward that he would call Ambati Rayudu through for a sneaky single after the new batsman was beaten outside the off stump by Trent Boult.

Once he was back on strike, Dhoni sent the last two balls of innings for sixes and finished with 44 off 22. At the start of the 19th over, he was 13 off 12

"It's easier for somebody to play 10-15 deliveries than somebody who has just come in to bat. It was just holding on a bit. It was not a wicket where it was coming on nicely and I felt it was slightly difficult for Rayudu to come and hit and [wicketkeeper] Rishabh [Pant] helped, he didn't take the gloves off [Dhoni does that a lot to prevent giving away such runs when he's behind the wicket] and that gave me an extra few seconds to finish my run."

In addition to his usual big-hitting exploits, Dhoni showcased immense skill in the field, stumping Chris Morris and Shreyas Iyer even though their back feet had barely risen from the ground.

He managed to catch them out largely thanks to his unique technique of waiting for the ball with his hands right on top of the stumps. Other wicketkeepers have a little give - cushioning the ball by swinging the hands back before thrusting them forward to clip the bails - but Dhoni doesn't. He collects the ball and clips the bails. No back swing.

"It's something that has come from tennis-ball cricket which I've played a lot," Dhoni said. "But you need to do the basics right first and then graduate to the next level. I feel if you want to keep like that, then this is what you practice. You may commit a lot of errors so what's important is you stick to the basics and then get to the advanced course. If you can reduce the time where you can clip the bails off, it always helps."

After the game, Dhoni went around the ground, hitting tennis balls into the crowd and thanking them for their support. But just before that, he was asked whether he liked being called thala.

"I've always said it's very special to get that kind of a nickname. It's a big nickname that has been given to me. It feels truly special. I never realised it was part of the first song that was made on CSK, that thala was part of it. And after hearing it, I realised [how important it is]. And the way I got accepted, the whole of Tamil Nadu, down south, it's always thala that they yell [not my name] and the moment I hear it, I know he's a fan of CSK and that he definitely comes from down south and he's slightly different. It feels special. At the same time, they've been very nice not only to me but to the whole team. So a big thanks to them."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

The No. 7 will likely be worn by a Washington Redskins player this season for the first time since 1985.

Former quarterback Joe Theismann, the last player to wear the number for the team, told 106.7 The Fan on Wednesday that he spoke with quarterback Dwayne Haskins, picked by the Redskins in the first round last week, and gave him his permission to wear the number this season.

No. 7 isn't retired by the Redskins, but the number is one of several that the team has "protected" by keeping it out of circulation. Sammy Baugh's No. 33 is the only number that has been officially retired by the franchise.

"I just got off the phone with Dwayne just a little while ago, and I told him it was OK to wear No. 7," Theismann told the radio station. "Given him permission. Not that I felt like I needed to, but he was respectful enough to ask.

"We had a really nice conversation. It's important to him. And hey, I want the kid to be successful. He doesn't need to worry about, 'Well, I wish I could've worn a different jersey. I wish I could've worn a number.' If this is one less thing that puts any problems out there or issues out there for him ... let's make his life as easy as possible, so that we can get the success from him that we're hoping and expecting."

Theismann, the Redskins' all-time leading passer, was asked if Haskins might ultimately decide to wear a different number despite being given permission to wear No. 7.

"I think he's decided that he wants to do it, so let me just say that," he said.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard says Victor Oladipo continues progressing from a right knee injury, but Pritchard remains uncertain when the All-Star guard will practice.

Oladipo suffered a season-ending ruptured quad tendon Jan. 23. He did not even return to Indiana until the Pacers' season-ending playoff loss to Boston on April 21.

Pritchard told reporters at Wednesday's season-ending news conference that following surgery, Oladipo needed about 12 to 13 weeks before he could start physical therapy, and that Oladipo is only now beginning that second phase.

But after again declining to set a timetable for Oladipo's return to the court, Pritchard said he hopes to have more answers before free agency begins and that Oladipo promised to return as a better player.

The NBA has rescinded technical fouls called Tuesday night against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Houston Rockets center Nene, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

The league's decision means Green's total number of postseason technical fouls has been reduced from four to three.

Seven technicals in one postseason span results in an automatic one-game suspension.

The technicals were called against Green and Nene late in the third quarter of Game 2 between the Warriors and Rockets, when the players exchanged a few words and were quickly given double technicals by official Ed Malloy.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game that the team would speak to the NBA in hopes they would rescind the technical foul before Game 3 on Saturday.

The Qatari capital prepares to welcome the world for a feast of athletics action later this year

It’s now less than 150 days until the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships gets under way – and the host city of Doha is preparing to throw open its doors to the world for the biennial showpiece.

It is expected that visitors from 205 countries, 3500 athletes, approximately 10,000 international guests, 30,000 spectators from outside Qatar and more than 2000 media personnel will descend on the city for what is the third-biggest sporting event on the planet.

Having been handed the baton from London, the location for a memorable championships which unfolded at the Olympic Stadium two years ago, anticipation is building towards the event, which will take place at another highly impressive, state-of-the-art venue – the Khalifa International Stadium – from September 27 to October 6.

There is no doubting that this will be a world championships with a difference. For starters, this will be the first time the event has been held in the Middle East.

With the temperatures in Doha in late September and early October high, all of the athletics sessions will start later in the day – particularly the marathon events, which will get off and running at midnight.

Yet, thanks to a three-year project, the Khalifa Stadium has been transformed into an ultra-modern venue equipped with cutting-edge features such as air-conditioning technology, LED lighting and digital floodlights, providing optimal performance conditions for athletes and a great viewing experience for spectators.

With the stage set, this will be a world championships to remember.

Here we take a look at Doha’s credentials as hosts, plus check out our trip tips feature here as we uncover some of the best things to see and do in a city which has lots to offer.

The next chapter

Having played host to events such as the Asian Games, as well as football’s Gulf Cup and AFC Asian Cup, Doha is no stranger to staging high-profile sporting events. Things are certainly about to step up a level, however.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon, but first comes this year’s IAAF World Athletics Championships – a showpiece which will turn the world’s gaze towards the Qatari capital.

The sport of track and field athletics is a regular fixture on the sporting calendar in this part of the world, of course.

The Doha Grand Prix was first held in 1997, with only men’s events included in the programme, while women’s disciplines were added the following year.

The meeting’s profile rose quickly and it was elevated to Grand Prix II level just two years later while, by 2005, it was one of five meetings granted Super Grand Prix status. By 2010 it had grown to become a strong international early-season fixture, marking it as an ideal opening competition for the newly-formed Diamond League series.

The first ever Diamond League meeting was staged at Qatar Sports Club Stadium in 2010 on May 14, only two months after Doha hosted the acclaimed IAAF World Indoor Championships.

After hosting the recent Asian Athletics Championships, the next chapter in Doha’s athletics history will be written very shortly when the Diamond League season-opener celebrates its 10th staging on Friday.

Given what lies in store later this year, there will undoubtedly be extra significance and attention on the meeting as athletes look to make an early mark in world championships season.

Britain’s triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith gets to sample the Khalifa Stadium – the 2019 World Championships host venue which takes over this year from the Qatar Sports Club – and will be in action, over 200m, in what will be a fascinating contest with Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast, who won the 100m in last year’s meeting. It is just one of many intriguing battles to look out for in a packed programme.

The fortunes of Qatari stars Abderrahman Samba, the Diamond League winner who ran the quickest time for the 400m hurdles since 1992 (46.98) last year and has started the year in fine form, as well as world champion high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim, will also be under the microscope in an international outdoor season which begins and ends in Doha.

The climax of it all will of course be the IAAF World Championships. It’s a finale not to be missed.

It’s not just the athletics that will be worth seeing when you visit Qatar for the IAAF World Championships

Doha is getting ready to welcome the world for a feast of athletics action later this year but the Qatari capital also has much more to offer.

Here are some experiences simply not to be missed when you make a trip for the IAAF World Championships, taking place from September 27 to October 6.

Click here to read more about the IAAF World Championship Doha 2019.

Walk through history at the Museum of Islamic Art

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) is the jewel in the crown of Doha’s cultural offering. MIA’s stunning display of the finest art and artefacts from across the Islamic worlds have earned the museum wide recognition.

Visitors can stroll through 14 centuries of Islamic history and see award-winning collections of paintings, metalworks, ceramics, textiles and manuscripts. MIA is also home to IDAM, a fine-dining restaurant run by highly acclaimed chef Alain Ducasse.

Stroll along the Doha Corniche

This 7km long waterfront promenade and park, stretching in a semi-circle around the entire length of Doha Bay, is one of the capital’s showpiece features. It not only offers spectacular views of the city but also provides a vehicle-free recreational oasis, ideal for a jog in the cool of the morning, a relaxing family picnic or a leisurely evening stroll.

Soak up the atmosphere in the Souq Waqif

The bustling alleys of Souq Waqif offer an authentic taste of Qatar’s local culture, architecture and history as a trading hub.

Its network of small shops and stores sell a rich variety of Middle Eastern fare, ranging from spices, dates and nuts to perfumes, jewellery, clothing and handcrafted souvenirs. Visitors can soak up the atmosphere while enjoying the traditional music, art and cultural shows which take place in the Souq.

An eclectic mix of restaurants and cafes offer traditional Qatari food as well as dishes with Asian and North African influences. The market is also home to art galleries, a traditional falconry market, a visitor’s centre and Qatar’s first hotel, the Bismillah Hotel, built in the 1950s.

Visit the Katara Cultural Village

The Katara Cultural Village and amphitheatre houses theatres, two mosques, art galleries and a venue which hosts year-round concerts, shows and exhibitions. The village also features a public beach offering a range of watersports and fine-dining restaurants.

See the Pearl-Qatar

Close to Katara lies the new man-made island of The Pearl-Qatar, which boasts impressive marina esplanades, luxury towers, villas, high-end boutiques and Mediterranean-style waterfront walks.

A day at the camel races

Professional camel racing is traditionally known as the sport of the sheikhs and Qatar’s Al-Shahaniya camel racing track is located an hour’s drive into the desert north of Doha.

The track hosts domestic and international tournaments every Friday between October and February. The racing camels are ridden by remote-controlled robot jockeys dressed in colourful racing silks.

Explore Al Zubarah Fort

Just over 100km from Doha lies Al Zubarah, which was once a prosperous coastal town in the Persian Gulf before it was destroyed in 1811 and abandoned in the early 1900s.

Today it is one of the most extensive and best-preserved examples of 18th-19th century settlements in the region.

After careful restoration, the town’s Fort was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013, the first such place in Qatar. The site houses a visitor centre and is a leading tourism attraction.

The National Museum of Qatar

Opened this year, the museum makes a dramatic addition to the Doha landscape with its design inspired by the local desert rose. This unique building embraces the newly restored Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al-Thani and provides visitors with many ways to participate, learn or to relax.

A 220-seat auditorium and rolling programme of events ensure each visit offers a new perspective. The dedicated research centre and laboratories provide new study opportunities.

For those looking to relax and take time out, new food venues include a stunning rooftop restaurant, while a newly landscaped park offers family-friendly interactive learning.

Take a dhow boat cruise

Cruise the Arabian Gulf’s calm waters and experience Qatar’s seafaring heritage aboard a traditional wooden dhow boat.

Typically sporting long thin hulls, dhows played an important role in Qatar’s trading history.

The traditional boats are decorated with fairy lights and cruises offer spectacular views of Doha’s skyline as guests tuck into an on-board BBQ buffet.

Find the sea in the desert

Around 60km from Doha in the south-eastern corner of the country lies one of Qatar’s most impressive natural wonders, the ‘Inland Sea’ or Khor Al Adaid.

A UNESCO-recognised natural reserve with diverse flora and fauna and its own ecosystem, this is one of the few places in the world where the sea encroaches deep into the heart of the desert.