"Sporting scandals of 2022: From Novak Djokovic’s deportation to Ronaldo’s bitter Man United exit"

" Sporting scandals of 2022: From Novak Djokovic's deportation to Ronaldo's bitter Man United exit \r\n\r\nAnother year is coming to a close and 2022 has provided sporting fans with some of the most awe-inspiring, record-breaking and jaw-dropping moments.\r\n\r\nBut there have also been plenty of controversies and scandals that will live long in the memory after ruffling a few feathers in the sporting world.\r\n\r\nFrom Conor Benn's drug scandal to Draymond Green's fight with Jordan Poole - and who can forget Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United exit - Sportsmail has rounded up the biggest sporting scandals of 2022.\r\n\r\n Benn's failed drug test \r\n\r\nThe boxing world was plunged into chaos earlier this year when Sportsmail revealed that Conor Benn had failed a drugs test ahead of his bout with Chris Eubank Jr.\r\n\r\nBenn returned an adverse finding for the banned substance clomifene, which is typically used to treat infertility in women but can increase testosterone in men.\r\n\r\nAs a result, the British Boxing Board of Control stepped in to say they would no longer sanction his highly-anticipated fight with Eubank Jr.\r\n\r\nBenn decided to have his B sample tested in the hope that would clear his name. However, he recorded a second positive test.\r\n\r\nTherefore, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the WBC decided to launch an investigation into the 26-year-old son of Nigel Benn.\r\n\r\nBenn has furiously denied cheating and did take to Instagram recently to declare his innocence.\r\n\r\nHis statement read: 'I want to start by saying this has been a very difficult time - not just for me, but my family and my team.\r\n\r\n'I couldn't have got through this without the love and support of those closest to me and my supporters who have stood by me, I am forever grateful.\r\n\r\n'My team and I have worked extremely hard over the past seven years to make me the fighter I am today, we have never cut corners or cheated the grind in any way. We believe in work ethic, determination and pure heart to achieve what we have set out to accomplish.\r\n\r\n'It's been really hard for me to accept that people think that I would do what I was accused of but what I've come to realise is people rush to judgement, without knowing the facts especially people in the boxing community (and, most disappointingly, even those that know me).\r\n\r\n'Never did we think we'd go through something like this but they say the hardest fight is life and the adversity it brings. I want to make up for lost time and not let another moment go to waste.\r\n\r\n'Boxing is my life. I've been through hardships in my career before but nothing like this, I believe in life you go through adversity of all kinds but what matters most is how you respond.\r\n\r\n'I've stayed in the gym and continued to work extremely hard, staying positive that my innocence will be proven and the truth will come out. My team has proven my innocence and the truth will soon come out. Until then, I won't be commenting further due to confidentiality.\r\n\r\n'For now, I am looking forward to sharing Christmas privately with my family and I will be back in January. See you all in 2023, the year I become world champion!'.\r\n\r\n'This is a legal system that is being rolled through people with all the news and facts. In my opinion, from what I've seen, if there is a ban, it cannot be a sizable ban from the facts that will be produced.'\r\n\r\n Ronaldo's bitter Manchester United exit \r\n\r\nThere are a number of places I could start when it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo's antics at Manchester United as the 37-year-old found himself grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons during his time at Old Trafford.\r\n\r\nPerhaps we should start with the fact Ronaldo was charged with improper conduct by the FA after he slapped a mobile phone out of the hand of a teenage fan after United's defeat at Everton in April.\r\n\r\nHe then found himself in hot water once again after storming down the Old Trafford tunnel before the final whistle had gone against Tottenham in October.\r\n\r\nThe 37-year-old star was furious about being left on the bench until the 87th minute of the Premier League game.\r\n\r\nErik ten Hag reportedly asked him to come on for the final few minutes, but he refused. Ronaldo then decided to head off down the tunnel before the final whistle had been blown.\r\n\r\nIt marked the second time Ronaldo had left a United game without permission under Ten Hag. In July, Ronaldo exited Old Trafford at half-time after being substituted in a pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.\r\n\r\nAs a result, Ronaldo was axed from the United squad that faced Chelsea and was forced to train on his own.\r\n\r\nHowever, the straw that broke the camel's back was Ronaldo's bombshell interview with Piers Morgan ahead of the World Cup.\r\n\r\nThe 37-year-old parted ways with Manchester United after giving an explosive interview that saw him criticise the club, Ten Hag and the Glazers.\r\n\r\nRonaldo also criticised his former team-mate Gary Neville - just days after he blanked the pundit live on TV after growing frustrated over his criticisms.\r\n\r\nWhile speaking to Morgan, Ronaldo accused his former team-mate of criticising him only to boost his own fame - before declaring him and Wayne Rooney not friends of his.\r\n\r\nThe 37-year-old said: 'To listen as ex-colleagues or team-mates criticise you, when they only see one point of view. It's easy. It's easy to criticise, I don't know if you have a job in television that they must criticise to be more famous.\r\n\r\n'I really don't understand it. It's hard when you see people who was in the dressing room with you criticising that way.'\r\n\r\nRonaldo added: 'It's hard to listen to that sort of criticism and negativity from people who play with you, for example Gary Neville as well.\r\n\r\n'People can have their own opinion but they don't know what is going inside the training ground at Carrington - or even my life.\r\n\r\n'They shouldn't listen to one point of view - they should listen to my point of view as well, because it's easy to criticise [when] you don't know the whole story\r\n\r\n'They are not my friends, they are colleagues. We play together, they're not coming, we're not ever having dinner together.\r\n\r\nIn addition to his comments regarding Rooney and Neville, Ronaldo also took aim at Ten Hag, whose reign has coincided with the total torching of his relationship with the club.\r\n\r\n'I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me,' Ronaldo told Morgan.\r\n\r\n'Some people, they don't want me here - not only the coach but the other two or three guys. Not only this year, but last year too.\r\n\r\n'Honestly, I shouldn't say that. But listen, I don't care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed.'\r\n\r\nWhile he also accused the club of not moving with the times, saying that they had been surpassed by Liverpool, Manchester City - and now even Arsenal.\r\n\r\nHe said: 'Since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero. Nothing changed. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. They stopped in time, which surprised me a lot.\r\n\r\n'I think the fans should know the truth. I want the best for the club. But you have some things inside [the club] that don't help reach the top level as City, Liverpool and even now Arsenal.'\r\n\r\n Djokovic's Australian nightmare \r\n\r\nIt seems like a life time ago. But yes, 2022 was the year that Novak Djokovic was banned from Australian and US tournaments due to his stance on the Covid-19 vaccination.\r\n\r\nDjokovic was deported on the eve of the 2022 Australian Open in January for not being vaccinated and received a three-year travel ban for the country.\r\n\r\nFormer immigration minister Alex Hawke used his discretionary powers to cancel the 35-year-old's visa and ban him from re-entering the country until 2025.\r\n\r\nHowever, the former world number one's visa ban was waived in November, opening up a path for Djokovic to target a 10th Australian Open crown in 2023 and giving him a chance to tie Rafa Nadal's mark of 22 Grand Slam titles..\r\n\r\nHis ordeal in Australia dominated the headlines. He then made an even bigger splash when he said he would refuse to play in future Grand Slams tournaments if it meant he had to take a Covid vaccine.\r\n\r\nTherefore, he was ruled out of the US Open as the event organisers said they would respect the government's rules on non-citizens being fully vaccinated in order to enter the country.\r\n\r\nSpeaking at the time, Djokovic said: 'I'm not going to go to America if I don't have permission, so the Australian saga for me was not pleasant at all.\r\n\r\n'People still think I forced my way to Australia and tried to come in with no papers, permission or exemption - it is not true.\r\n\r\n'That was proven in the court cases, so I would never go into a country where I didn't have permission to travel.\r\n\r\n'I would love to come back to Australia. I love Australia, I had my best Grand Slam results in that country.\r\n\r\n'Hopefully I can be there in January because I want to be there, and I also want to be in New York. I want to be in America and everywhere I can possibly play.'\r\n\r\n LeBron sued over an ice hockey movie \r\n\r\nLeBron James and rappers Drake and Future were the subject of a $10million lawsuit - filed in September - over their documentary on Canada's 'Colored Hockey League'.\r\n\r\nBilly Hunter - the former head of the NBA Players Association and a former federal prosecutor - says the he acquired the legal rights to produce any film about the Colored Hockey League that began in 1895.\r\n\r\nThe lawsuit, filed by Hunter's attorney Larry Hutcher, read: 'While the defendants LeBron James, Drake and Maverick Carter [LeBron's business partner] are internationally known and renowned in their respective fields of basketball and music, it does not afford them the right to steal another's intellectual property.'\r\n\r\nHutcher went on to explain the reasoning behind his lawsuit, telling DailyMail.com that there was 'no choice' in a short statement.\r\n\r\n'The athlete and rappers have not responded to any inquiries following the initial cease and desist letter,' Hutcher wrote.\r\n\r\n'Billy always thought this was going to be a powerful story and it was literally shocking to him when he found out that the documentary was moving forward.'\r\n\r\n'The legal team considered an injunction to stop the moving from playing at the Toronto International Film Festival but decided against it.'\r\n\r\n Zouma filmed kicking his cat \r\n\r\nKurt Zouma landed himself in a world of trouble in 2022, having been caught on social media abusing his cat.\r\n\r\nZouma could be seen volleying the Bengal cat across his kitchen, before throwing a pair of shoes at it and slapping its head.\r\n\r\nThe shocking incident came to light after a woman who had been due to go on a date with Kurt's brother Yoan saw the footage on his Snapchat, prompting her to raise the alarm and cancel her date.\r\n\r\nThe West Ham defender pleaded guilty to two counts under the Animal Welfare Act when he appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court in east London in May.\r\n\r\nWest Ham also fined Zouma two weeks' wages, worth \u00a3250,000, but the club's response was criticised and labelled as weak because they allowed him to continue playing.\r\n\r\nNevertheless, West Ham did state that they 'unreservedly condemned' Zouma's actions and that 'in no way condone cruelty towards animals'.\r\n\r\nWest Ham released the following statement at the time, saying: 'West Ham United unreservedly condemns the actions of our player, Kurt Zouma, in the video that has circulated.\r\n\r\n'We have spoken to Kurt and will be dealing with the matter internally, but we would like to make it clear that we in no way condone cruelty towards animals.'\r\n\r\n Simmons refusal to play in the NBA \r\n\r\nLooks like Ronaldo isn't the only one who refused to play this season.\r\n\r\nBen Simmons pulled the same move in America but on a much greater scale. He refused to play in the NBA for an entire season.\r\n\r\nSimmons established himself as a star in the NBA after bursting onto the scene in 2017. He went on to win Rookie of the Year in 2018 and helped the Philadelphia 76ers reach the second round of the 2021 NBA playoffs.\r\n\r\nHowever, it all started to go downhill for Simmons after their final game with the Atlanta Hawks. The fans criticised Simmons for deciding to pass the ball instead of scoring a dunk.\r\n\r\nSimmons accepted responsibility after the game. However, the backlash against the star just kept coming. As a result, Simmons requested a trade.\r\n\r\nSimmons then failed to report to training ahead of the 2021-2022 season. He was hit with several fines for refusing to play but cited mental health issues for the reason behind his absence.\r\n\r\nThe NBA star finally secured a trade in February 2022 - swapping Philadelphia 76ers to Brooklyn Nets. However, that didn't stop him from making the headlines.\r\n\r\nHe still refused to play. Again, the 26-year-old cited mental health issues and a physical health problem for his withdrawal from action. Therefore, he missed an entire season.\r\n\r\n Masvidal takes the fight outside the Octagon \r\n\r\nMMA fighter Jorge Masvidal was charged with felony battery after allegedly attacking Colby Covington outside a Miami Beach restaurant in March.\r\n\r\nThe incident with his rival took place just three weeks after their bout at UFC 272 in Las Vegas - where Covington won via unanimous decision.\r\n\r\nThe pair were reportedly seen arguing outside of a restaurant called Papi Steak before Masvidal 'sucker punched' his former opponent twice.\r\n\r\nCovington is said to have suffered a broken tooth from the altercation and was heard venting his frustrations on camera.\r\n\r\nIt was TMZ who posted the original video of Masvidal and Covington. Masvidal was the first person heard during the clip. He said: 'Don't talk about my kids', while being held back.\r\n\r\nLater in the clip, Covington was heard saying: 'He's over here swinging, trying to come at me, and I ran out the back of the room.' He then turned to social media star and podcast host Bob Menery and asked, 'How would he even know I'm here?'.\r\n\r\n The rise of LIV Golf \r\n\r\nA number of the world's top golfers chose to jump ship from the traditional PGA Tour in favour of the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf this year.\r\n\r\nThe massively lucrative and controversial new competition was widely criticised by fans when it was first announced by Greg Norman in March.\r\n\r\nMany felt it was Saudi Arabia's latest and most transparent attempt to improve their global image and mask numerous human rights issues through sport.\r\n\r\nAfter launching this year, the Saudi-backed breakaway series confirmed it will return in 2023 in the new form of the LIV Golf League with $405million up for grabs in prize purses and the chance for promotions and relegations.\r\n\r\nPhil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia are just a few of the sport's big names to ditch the traditional tours for the riches on offer in LIV Golf.\r\n\r\nIt has prompted something of a civil war within the sport, with Rory McIlroy the most vocal of critics against the new competition.\r\n\r\nLast week it was announced that LIV players will be invited to the Masters in 2023, which means we'll get plenty of awkward glances and chats when both sides of the battle for golf's future meet at Augusta National.\r\n\r\n Green's practice punch \r\n\r\nTeam-mates are known for falling out or stepping on each others toes, but I think punching someone square in the face is taking it slightly too far.\r\n\r\nBut, that's exactly what Draymond Green did when he lamped Golden State Warriors team-mate Jordan Poole.\r\n\r\nVideo footage showed Green exchanging words with Poole along the baseline before squaring up to the smaller guard while still on the court.\r\n\r\nPoole tried to push the veteran forward out of the way while concerned teammates and coaches begin to take notice of what was going on.\r\n\r\nGreen was furious at Poole for pushing him and lashed out - sucker punching the 23-year-old square in the face with a strong right hook.\r\n\r\nThose watching were quick to react. They grabbed onto Green and prevented him from throwing another punch. While the others checked on Poole.\r\n\r\nPoole was said to be fine after chewing Green's fist and reportedly finished training with the Golden State Warriors.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n "

"Sporting scandals of 2022: From Novak Djokovic’s deportation to Ronaldo’s bitter Man United exit"

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