Explain inclusion of tragic old man in contest (5,2)

I believe the answer is:

clear up

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'explain' is the definition.
(clearing up is a kind of explaining)

'inclusion of tragic old man in contest' is the wordplay.
'inclusion of tragic old man' becomes 'lear' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'contest' becomes 'cup' (a sporting contest eg the FA Cup).
'lear' put into 'cup' is 'CLEAR-UP'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for clear up that I've seen before include "be less untidy" , "Resolve" , "Sort out" , "Tidy; explain; cure" , "Free from confusion - tidy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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