The week in sports: from Bolt's lost gold to Federer's 18th Grand Slam

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Tennis: Federer back to winning in Melbourne

Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after beating Rafael Nadal of Spain in the final of the 2017 Australian Open on January 29, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. /CFP Photo

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer beat long-time rival Rafael Nadal on Sunday to secure his fifth Australian Open and 18th Grand Slam title in a thrilling five-set final in Melbourne. The eagerly awaited match-up between the two former number one players, the first in a Grand Slam final since the French Open in 2011, ended 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 for Federer, who jumped with joy after his winning point. A day earlier, Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus to claim her 23rd Grand Slam title in Melbourne 6-4, 6-4.

Athletics: Olympic champ Mo Farah slams US immigration ban

This file photo taken on August 20, 2016 shows Britain's Mo Farah celebrating winning the Men's 5000m Final during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 20, 2016. /CFP Photo

British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah blasted US President Donald Trump’s new immigration order in a Facebook post on Sunday, calling it “deeply troubling.” The distance runner, who lives in the US, was born in Somalia, one of seven majority Muslim countries whose citizens are now being denied entry into the US under an executive order signed by Trump on Friday. “On 1st January this year, Her Majesty The Queen made me a Knight of the Realm. On 27th January, President Donald Trump seems to have made me an alien,” Farah wrote on Facebook, slamming what he said was “a policy that comes from a place of ignorance and prejudice”. He later said he was relieved after it was clarified he would not fall under the ban.

Athletics: Bolt loses Beijing gold over teammate’s doping

This file photo taken on August 22, 2008 shows (from left) Jamaica's Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Usain Bolt and Michael Frater celebrating after winning the men's 4x100m relay final at the National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. /CFP Photo

Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt has been stripped of one of his three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after his 4x100 meter relay teammate Nesta Carter was found to have tested positive for doping. The decision, announced on Wednesday, shattered Bolt’s historic triple-triple achievement – winning gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in three consecutive Olympic Games in 2008, 2012 and 2016. "I'm not happy about it but what can I say?" the charismatic runner said after the announcement, adding however "I've worked hard over the years. I've shown my dominance throughout the years. I think by losing one medal that shouldn't be a problem.”

F1: Ecclestone ousted as F1 chief

This file photo taken on June 18, 2016 shows Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone walking in the paddock at the Baku City Circuit, in Baku, one day ahead of the European Formula One Grand Prix. /CFP Photo

The reign of Formula One’s long-time boss Bernie Ecclestone is over. The 86-year-old was removed as head of F1 last Monday, following the sport’s takeover by US company Liberty Media for a reported US$8 billion. Ecclestone ruled over F1 for four decades, transforming it into one of the world’s most watched sports and making a fortune in the process. The Brit has been replaced by American Chase Carey at the helm of F1 but is expected to stay on as advisor to the board and “chairman emeritus.”

Football: Aleppo sees first game in years

Fans attend the Syrian league football match between derby rivals Al Ittihad and Horiyah on January 28, 2017, in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. /CFP Photo

‍The war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo made news for happier reasons on Saturday as two local sides faced off in the city’s first professional football game in over five years. Al Ittihad eventually beat rivals Horiyah 2-1 in front of a noisy crowd of supporters waving their teams’ colors. Fighting between rebels and government forces in the city had halted all football games since 2011. Government forces retook the city last month. ‍