Just when we thought we had seen it all, South African rugby was hit by another sordid scandal. With a script worthy of a local soapie, allegations of blackmail and sex tapes hit the front pages.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers knew the job was tough, but probably didn't expect this! Allegedly forced to retain a player in his squad or face the consequences? But while the alleged sex tape has yet to surface, the damage has already been done. Reputations have been tarnished, careers have almost certainly been ruined and South African rugby has once again been made the laughing stock of the sports world.

So we at iafrica.com decided that it is our duty to shed the light on some other, ahem, embarrassing moments in sport.

Andrew Symonds:

During the recent one-day international series against the visiting Bangladesh, the big-hitting Australian middle-order batsman decided he would rather go fishing than attend a compulsory team meeting and training session. Symonds's decision did not endear him to his coach or his fellow teammates and 'Roy' was sent back home. He has subsequently been left out the Australian squad to tour India later this month and it is yet to be seen whether Symonds's latest indiscretion spells the end of his career.

Valentino Rossi:

As quick as he is on the racing circuit, the Italian speed merchant wasn't quite quick enough to dodge the Italian taxman. In 2007 the Italian tax authorities investigated 'The Doctor' for tax evasion to the tune of &eurpo;112-million ($160-million). In February of 2008 though, the two parties reached an amicable settlement where Rossi agreed to cough up the sum €35-million euros ($49.5-million) to make the tax case go away.

Andrew Flintoff:

England's 2007 Cricket World Cup campaign in the Caribbean ran into all sorts of problems both on the field and off it. Having lost a vital game to group rivals New Zealand, a group of England players went partying at a nightclub close to the team's hotel. According to media reports, after leaving the club, a rather inebriated Andrew Flintoff got into a pedalo, pedaled into the surf and then later needed to be rescued after falling off it. Freddie was then stripped of the England vice-captaincy and suspended for the must-win game against Canada.

Mohamed Asif:

No stranger to controversy, the Pakistan fast bowler hit the headlines after being detained in Dubai on suspicion of possessing illegal drugs. The unknown substance, along with a urine sample, were sent off for analysis and it turned out that Asif had tested positive for cocaine. The Dubai authorities though dropped the charges but deported the Pakistan misfit back to his home country. Once back home, Asif protested his innocence claiming to have passed two drugs tests while playing in the Indian Premier League. Things went rapidly downhill from there as the IPL revealed that a player had indeed tested positive for a banned substance and that the player was Asif. The speedster was suspended from all cricket by the PCB as they waited for his 'B' sample to be tested. Reports have since claimed that the 'B' sample has also tested positive.

Max Mosley:

The high-powered motorsport chief was vilified in the motosports world and especially Formula One, after a report surfaced that Mosley was caught on tape participating in a Nazi-themed orgy with five prostitutes. Mosley was immediately called on to resign from his post as the FIA president, but he refused to give in, barely surviving a vote of no confidence to keep his job.

Wendell Sailor:

Rugby League covert Wendell Sailor arrived in Union amidst a chorus of praise and high expectations. Expected to dominate the code of Union as he had done for years in League, Sailor was a miserable failure on the field. But if was off it where he made the most headlines — unfortunately it was for all the wrong reasons there as well. In 2006, four years after moving to Union, he was banned for a number of matches after an altercation with a South African local while on tour. Sailor returned to action in Round Six of the Super 14 that year, but just hours before the final pool match of the season the big winger tested positive for cocaine and was subsequently banned for two years, which effectively ended his professional career.

Marion Jones:

The American sprint queen shocked the world in late 2007 when she publicly admitted to being a drugs cheats, admitting to taking steroids before the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. She also admitted to having lied to the press, various sports agencies and to two grand juries about not having taken steroids. Following her admissions, Jones was handed a two-year ban, whereupon she announced her retirement from athletics. That though was far from the end of it for her, as Jones was stripped of medals, points, results and prizes obtained subsequent to 1 September, 2000. Already humiliated, Jones also pleaded guilty to lying to federal officials and was sentenced to six months in court. For the record, Jones was released on 5 September, 2008.

Eric Cantona:

Eric Cantona was well known for his sublime skills on the field, but on 25 January, 1995, Cantona became even better known after he launched a flying kick at a fan, who had allegedly been taunting him. The fiery Frenchman ended up doing 120 hours of community service after an appeal court overturned a two-week prison sentence for assault. The English Football Association wasn't done with the flamboyant Frenchman for bringing the game into disrepute and slapped a nine-month ban on him. He was subsequently also stripped of the French captaincy.

Ben Thatcher:

The football world was again rocked by a display of savage on-field violence in 2006 after Manchester City's Ben Thatcher hospitalised Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes with a shocking shackle. As both players were chasing after a loose ball, Thatcher intentionally barged into Mendes while leading with his elbow, knocking the Portuguese midfielder into the advertising boards and into unconsciousness. Mendes suffered a seizure while being transferred to hospital, but recovered the next day. Thatcher's club banned him for six matches and fined him six weeks pay while the FA banned the thug for eight matches.

Joey Barton:

English midfielder Joey Barton spent the 2008 off-season singing the jailbird blues after being sentenced to six months (and serving 77 days thereof) imprisonment for assault during an incident outside a McDonald's in Liverpool. While in jail, he also admitted to assaulting his former Manchester City Ousmane Dabo during a training ground bust-up which left Dabo looking like 'the elephant man'. Barton was handed a 12-game ban by the English Football Association for the Dabo assault. The midfielder though, is not out of the woods yet, as he has also been accused of stubbing out a cigar in a trainee's eyes while being at Manchester City.

Think the list is incomplete? Drop a comment and let us know!
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