TENNIS - The career of Russian former world No.1 Maria Sharapova is in tatters after being handed a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation following her positive test for meldonium at this year's Australian Open.
CRICKET - Alastair Cook has echoed the sentiments of Australia skipper Steve Smith in calling for the 2017/18 Ashes series to remain a red-ball contest.
CRICKET - Cook also says players involved in match-fixing should serve life bans but he will have no problem facing Pakistan's Mohammad Amir who is returning to Test cricket after a five-year suspension for spot-fixing.
TENNIS - Second-seeded Bernard Tomic has marched through to the quarter-finals of the Ricoh Open following a routine 6-4 6-3 win over Britain's Aljaz Bedene. Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki has lost in her second match since coming back from injury, falling to Anett Kontaveit of Estonia 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 at the Nottingham Open.
SOCCER - UEFA president Michel Platini, is serving a four-year ban from soccer after being found guilty of ethics violations for taking a payment of $2 million from FIFA in 2011, will be allowed to attend the European Championship.
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SOCCER - Jose Mourinho's rebuilding job at Manchester United has begun with his first signing, Ivory Coast central defender Eric Bailly who has joined from Spanish side Villarreal.
TENNIS - So long the dominant force in women's tennis, Serena Williams will head to Wimbledon this month in danger of losing her No.1 ranking to Spain's Garbine Muguruza.
