In one of the most controversial years in recent sport history, Thomas Dullard looks back at what has actually been happening in the world of sport.
What the bloody hell is going on in world sport?
With a full quarter remaining, 2013 will forever be remembered as a monumental 12 months in world sport.
With all of the scandals, drugs, reports, suspensions, findings, series and revelations in sport across the globe, the beast that is sports news is bigger than ever before.
And it has reached a point of no return.
The feast for sports news has been fuelled by more detailed investigative sports journalism and a desire and demand from the masses to be intimitely informed.
As governing bodies, anti-doping agencies and fans pursue fair play and integrity in sport, even the most experienced sports journalists have marginally managed to keep up as we try maintain healthy and honourable organisations.
It hasn’t been easy in a tumultuous year of sport.
There have been admissions and developments that have equally shocked and rocked sporting fraternities – in and out of Australia.
January 2013
It all began in January, when Lance Armstrong – the hero for hundreds around the world – admitted to doping his way to the top in seven years of the Tour de France.
In dramatic circumstances he sat with Oprah and smugly spoke of the use of his banned blood-boosters.
Since his frightening admissions sent shock waves around the world, sport news has continued to unravel with twists and turns like we have never seen before.
February
On February 7 2013 – before we could even digest the Armstrong fracas – Australia was stunned by the news of major doping and match fixing debacle in our own backyard.
The Australian Crime Commission came out swinging with a lengthy investigation into Australian sport that marked “the darkest day in Australian Sport.”
Then came the horrific news that the first man to ever compete at both an Olympics and Paralympics, ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius, was charged with the Valentine’s Day murder of his model girlfriend.
The dark and complex life of the ‘Blade Runner’ emerged on February 18 as the 26-year-old was accused of shooting model Reeva Steenkamp.
March
Way back in March it was revealed that Essendon players were urged to have up to 40 injections each last season, raising the eyebrows of thousands around the globe.
To this day the Essendon supplements saga remains unsolved – despite the continual innuendo and suspicions – it is always growing legs and will create headlines until the ASADA report is released.
In Australia, a simple AFL match summary or footy writing is no longer enough.
April
The drugs scandal also engulfed the NRL, specifically the Cronulla Sharks. After starting the season as one of the favourites, coach coach Shane Flanagan admitted his team’s NRL campaign was being destroyed by the ongoing investigation.
May
Australian National cricket team were struck down by the “homework” fiasco that enveloped the national team on a horrid tour of India.
The squad’s discipline broke down to the point that four players including then vice-captain Shane Watson were suspended from a Test match. It also ruled out James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson out of contention.
June
Not only was Australian cricket coach Mickey Arthur sacked and replaced by “Boof Lehman”, he went to the courts because of an unfair dismissal.
July
Athletics joined in on the drug trend of 2013 when they spiralled into turmoil after it was revealed that two of the sport’s biggest names had failed drugs tests.
Tyson Gay, the fastest man in the world this year, tested positive for an unidentified substance and former world record-holder Asafa Powell was among five Jamaican athletes to have failed drugs tests for a banned stimulant.
Australian cycling legend and Olympic gold medalist Stuart Ogrady admitted to the use of EPO before the 1998 Tour de France three days after his retirement from the sport.
August
New York Yankee third batsmen Alex Rodriguez and 12 other players suspended in the “Biogenesis PEDs scandal.”
The Yankees star was banned for 211 games and 12 others suspended for 50 games as Major League Baseball attempts to clean up use of performance enhancing drugs.
There is no place for drug cheats in sport, whether professional athletes break the rules knowingly or not. Journalists and fans alike need to continue to fight for an even playing field.
Sick of drugs: The world of sport has been flooded by news on drugs in 2013.
Sport is an amazing social, emotional and educational tool and we need to be able to believe in what we support.
With all of the doom and gloom we need to hang in there.
Don’t forget or lose sight of the rising stars, the inspirational stories, the talent and the tales that we cherish from the people and games that we love.
What are the other key moments in sport this year? Feel free to add some enjoyable moments into the mix. Join in the conversation.
