12 days of disaster

August 4: It emerged that Michael O’Reilly failed a drugs test, which was taken in Ireland before he flew to Rio for the Games.

August 5: It was reported that O’Reilly would contest the finding. It was unclear at first if he would request his ‘B’ sample be tested, though initial indications were that he would not.

August 7: In an apparent U-turn, it was reported O’Reilly would request a ‘B’ sample test.

August 5-8: Sources in O’Reilly’s camp repeatedly insisted he was “squeaky clean” in the following days.

August 8: Paddy Barnes crashed out in Ireland’s first boxing bout at the Olympics. He blamed the weight cut and confirmed he would not compete at the next Games.

August 9: O’Reilly admitted he “unintentionally” took a supplement which “may” have contained a banned substance. His disqualification was confirmed.

August 9: David Oliver Joyce was eliminated from the lightweight division.

August 10: Another boxer was eliminated as light heavyweight Joe Ward was beaten by Carlos Mina of Ecuador.

August 13: Steven Donnelly missed out on a bronze medal after he was beaten by welterweight world champion Mohamed Rabii, from Morocco.

August 14: A rare reprieve, as Michael Conlan cruised to victory over Armenia’s Aram Avagyan. The bantamweight is our last hope for a boxing medal.

August 15: Shock as Katie Taylor lost to Finland’s Mira Potkonen in the quarter-finals of the lightweight division.