The Russian doping scandal boasted all the seedy ingredients of a spy novel with whistleblowers, drug cocktails and under-cover chicanery.

By excluding Russia from major international sporting competitions for the next two years over systematic doping, the Court of Arbitration for Sport made a "very strong" move that validates the work of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), its director general Olivier Niggli told AFP.

Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for a now-deleted social media post containing a Spanish phrase that is offensive in some contexts and for which the Manchester United star apologized.

Jose Mourinho took a swipe at title rivals Liverpool on Tuesday as the Tottenham manager claimed the Premier League champions do not have an injury crisis.

Doha will host the 2030 Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia announced Wednesday, while Riyadh was named as host of the 2034 edition under a compromise agreed between the rivals.

Robert Lewandowski is confident of being named FIFA's best male footballer on Thursday on the strength of his 55-goal haul to help Bayern Munich win the treble last season.

Former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta broke a bone in his leg while playing for Japanese club Vissel Kobe in the Asian Champions League and will be out for four months, his club said Wednesday.

Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Farre told AFP on Tuesday he would work to make sure Lionel Messi stays at the Catalan giants should be elected next month, and hinted at a improbable bid for Neymar by the cash-strapped club.

Williams Formula One team said on Tuesday that their founder Frank Williams has been admitted to hospital where he is in a stable condition.

Pope Francis, an avid supporter of Argentine football team San Lorenzo, has committed a cardinal sin by becoming a member of a rival club, although it's for a good cause.