As the US Anti-Doping Agency prepares to present its case against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, the sport faces a crucial test of its credibility.
The Ryder Cup is contested every two years, but some things never change. Especially the hangers-on. George Bush Sr and Bill Clinton will cheer for the US, but the main interest will, as ever, be the battle of the Wags.
Worried about spiralling debts and the apparent inability of its members to control spending, UEFA launched Financial Fair Play, a first skirmish in the battle between the sport’s old money and its nouveau riche.
Wherever you go, maybe to an obscure Caribbean island or to once mighty Italy, it seems that the football air is tainted.