South African Olympic swimming champion Chad Le Clos revealed yesterday that his preparations for the Rio Games have been overshadowed by news that both his parents have cancer.

Olympic champion Allyson Felix stunningly failed to make the US team for Rio in her favourite event, the 200 metres, as her dreams for a rare sprint Olympic double ended at the American trials on Sunday.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said yesterday it has put back its ruling on the two-year doping ban for Maria Sharapova for two months to September, ruling the tennis superstar out of the Rio Olympics.

World number three Jordan Spieth has pulled out of next month’s Olympics because of fears over the Zika virus, officials said at a news conference held at the British Open yesterday.

As the Portugal players sang and danced well past midnight in celebration of their Euro 2016 triumph on Sunday, it all seemed a bit much for the man whose goal had brought them their first major title.

The European Championship ended Sunday with Portugal’s stunning victory over France in the final — the last shock in a tournament of giant-killing romance, vicious and gentle fans, the rise of Antoine Griezmann as an international star and Cristiano Ronaldo stretchered off in tears and still winning

The expanded European soccer Championship format with 24 teams in the finals instead of 16 contributed to fairytale runs by so-called minnows at Euro 2016 but also helped Portugal lift their first major trophy.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said he did not mind how his team won and they claimed the European Championship title with another “ugly” victory.

Once again, Chris Froome reached the first rest day of the Tour de France in yellow, but this year, his advantage is much thinner and his main rival Nairo Quintana is keeping his cards close to his chest.

Race leader Chris Froome said yesterday the Tour de France will suffer form the absence of Alberto Contador, although admitted it would make his own life easier.

Milos Raonic became the latest man to be foiled by the Grand Slam stranglehold of the ‘Big Four’ when he ran up against the Wimbledon brick wall of Andy Murray and, like others before him, was left scrambling to find hope in the wreckage.

Rather than being distracted by the sleepless nights or the regular nappy changing duties that have fallen his way, the arrival of baby daughter Sophia in February has breathed new life into Andy Murray’s career.