Russia was banned from taking part in or hosting world championships, including the World Cup as part of doping sanctions imposed by WADA.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Saturday
Cameroon, finalists in 2008, came back from the brink of elimination to scrape past Zambia 3-2 and revive their African Nations Cup campaign on Sunday.
Switzerland, who needed only a draw to progress to the knockout phase for third time in the past four tournaments, found themselves under early pressure from already-eliminated Costa Rica before Blerim Dzemaili handed the Swiss the half-time lead.
This was Sen's second straight defeat against Chou in less than a month.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals as Portugal deservedly beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 and eliminate the Dutch, beaten World Cup finalists two years ago.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals as Portugal deservedly beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 and eliminate the Dutch, beaten World Cup finalists two years ago.
With several senior players being rested for the West Indies tour, Team India could now be sweating over stand-in skipper Gautam Gambhir's fitness.
Defiant Brazil manager Dunga brushed off suggestions that early elimination from the Copa America would cost him his job on Sunday, telling reporters that he feared 'only death' and not unemployment.
Raphael Varane converted two corners as a second-string Real Madrid began the defence of their King's Cup crown with a 4-1 victory against third-tier part-timers Cornella on Wednesday.
Images from the round of 16 match between Argentina and Mexico at the 2010 World Cup.
France brushed aside co-hosts Ukraine 2-0 in a Group D game suspended for 55 minutes by a violent thunderstorm and England fought back to beat Sweden 3-2 after more enthralling action at Euro 2012.
Indian defence let in a goal just three minutes from the final hooter when Marta Segu scored from a rebound
France's 22-match unbeaten run will count for nothing on Friday when they will face similar challenges as they did against England in a Euro 2012 Group D clash against red-hot Ukraine in Donetsk.
North Korea beat Japan 1-0 in a tempestuous World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, the result largely academic with the visiting Blue Samurai already through to the final qualifying round for 2014.
Ozil, who plays for English Premier League club Arsenal, was criticised for having his photograph taken with Turkey's authoritarian President Tayyip Erdogan in May.
India's Tintu Luka made it to the women's 800m semi-finals but shot putter Om Prakash Karhana was eliminated in the qualifying round of the World Athletics Championships.
German football legend Lothar Matthaus has said that injured skipper Michael Ballack should consider quitting international football.
World number one Jelena Jankovic will face defending champion Elena Dementieva in the Kremlin Cup semi-finals. Both players had to fight hard to overcome their unseeded opponents Friday. Dementieva eliminated fellow-Russian Nadia Petrova 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 while Jankovic beat Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6, 6-3.
After the match between Argentina and Iceland, an Argentine journalist hands over to Messi a red ribbon at a post-match press briefing.
Ankur Mittal added to the Indian shooting contingent's medal rush by winning a bronze in the men's double trap event of the 21st Commonwealth Games, in Brisbane, on Wednesday.
Ireland captain William Porterfield feels that the best chance for his team to beat India in the ICC World Cup group league encounter will be to restrict them to a reasonable total by taking wickets.
Spain defender Sergio Ramos was surprised to learn that the country's record appearance maker and long-time captain Iker Casillas had been left out of the Spain squad by coach Julen Lopetegui. The Spain players met up with their new manager for the first time on Monday to prepare for the international friendly in Belgium on Sept. 1 and their opening World Cup qualifier at home to Liechtenstein on Sept. 5.
Real Sociedad midfielder Carlos Vela was called up by Mexico for November tour friendlies on Tuesday after turning his back on his country since March 2011.
A win would move Sri Lanka level with fourth-placed England on eight points and leave both teams with two matches to play -- in the case of the Lankans, ties against West Indies and India
Former Brazil coach Dunga has been sacked by Internacional after a fourth successive defeat in the Brazilian Championship, the club from the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul said on Friday.
South Africa defeated Afghanistan by 59 runs in their Twenty20 World Cup group C match on Wednesday.
Davis Cup holders Britain edged into a 2-1 lead in Serbia after Jamie Murray and Dominic Inglot won Saturday's doubles.
Former Pakistan cricketers on Thursday paid tribute to coach Bob Woolmer, whose tragic death during the ODI World Cup in the West Indies exactly three years ago had left everybody stunned.
Italy and France face the unpalatable prospect of being eliminated from Euro 2008 on Friday.
The semi-final against Australia and if the Indian women are fortunate, Sunday's final will decide her place in history as a captain, though she has long secured her position in the Elysium of women's cricket, says Haresh Pandya.
Only close relatives attended the funeral in Observatory, near the family's Pinelands home outside Cape Town.
Spain's new coach Luis Enrique said on Thursday that his tenure in charge of the 2010 world champions would be all about 'evolution, not revolution' but the former Barcelona manager also promised plenty of surprises in his first squad.
Switzerland and Honduras drew 0-0 in their final Group H game with chances missed at both ends as the two sides were eliminated from the World Cup.
Paraguay qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup despite being held to a goalless draw by a well-organised New Zealand in their Group F match on Thursday.
Robert Lewandowski became Poland's all-time leading scorer with 49 goals after netting twice in the first half of their World Cup qualifier in Armenia on Thursday.
Albin Ekdal does not care about criticism that they are too defensive and dependent on long balls.
Shrugging off their shock defeat to Zimbabwe in a warm-up game, Australia began their Twenty20 World Cup campaign in style, thrashing the defending champions Pakistan by 34 runs in a group C match at St. Lucia on Sunday.
It will take India at least a decade compete with the world's best, says former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay.
As the tournament gets to the next round here's look at the quarter-finalists.
