WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT

HOT RORY McILROY

IT might be a rivalry after all. Brooks Koepka had every right to point to their recent records in the majors but when McIlroy is at his very best, he will beat anyone. His win in Shanghai this week for a fourth title of the season would suggest he is growing larger in Koepka’s rearview mirror.

LEWIS HAMILTON

HIS environmental campaign, while full of good intentions, smelled a little of hypocrisy. But he drives a race car like no other. His sixth world F1 title surely cements his status as the finest British sportsman of his era.

MARY CAIN

SHE was once the fastest girl in the US and now alleges she had her life and career savaged under the regime of Alberto Salazar at the Nike Oregon Project. She claims she was put under so much pressure to lose weight it had severe consequences for her health. By speaking out about this she might bring some good from a wretched operation.

NOT SERIE A

ANOTHER game, another instance of racist behaviour from supporters. This time it was fans of Verona abusing Mario Balotelli, who responded by booting the ball into the crowd and threatening to walk off. One can only hope the ball smacked one of the bigots flush in the face.

WADA

THE anti-doping body have confirmed they will get involved in the Salazar scandal by scrutinising athletes who were part of the Nike Oregon Project. All well and good. But shouldn’t they have been doing that for years, rather than leaving the US AntiDoping Agency to do the heavy lifting? It all feels a little like grandstanding.

SARACENS

THEY say a 35-point penalty and £5.36million fine was a ‘heavy-handed’ sanction for breaching the salary cap. Maybe they’re right. Maybe a gentle ticking-off would have covered it and a promise to never be silly again. Or maybe they are cheats and should consider themselves rather lucky to keep their titles.