Olympic medallists Paul and Gary O’Donovan’s rowing club has revealed ambitious expansion plans to ensure a conveyor belt of champions.

Three-time Olympian Paddy Barnes is expected to reveal details of his move into the professional ranks within the next fortnight.

Shocking, embarrassing, and disappointing. That was sports minister Shane Ross’s response yesterday to the double scandal to engulf Ireland’s Olympic dream in Rio. Who is to blame, asks Daniel McConnell

Ireland’s Olympic boss Pat Hickey has been told by sports ministers Shane Ross and Patrick O’Donovan to clarify urgently what he knows about the ticket touting scandal.

There can be few things more irksome and irritating as a GAA player than losing a game in Croke Park and then finding you’re one of the players being drug-tested straight after.

One week on from Michael Conlan’s world championship final win, officials from the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) were last night preparing a defence for the increasing criticism launched at them following the resignation of Billy Walsh.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association should act ‘quickly and decisively ‘ to resolve Billy Walsh’s future as head coach of Irish boxing’s High Performance Unity, according to Kieran Mulvey, chairman of the Irish Sports Council.

The Irish Amateur Boxing Association were last night maintaining a silent stance on Billy Walsh’s future as Irish head coach following speculation that the Wexford man is set to take up a coaching role with the United States’ boxing team.

Given his rounded experience in the game as player, administrator, legend of Irish football and, in his current role as media personality, someone who can usually be relied upon to offer a thoughtful opinion on the issues of the day, it’s hardly a surprise Niall Quinn is periodically touted as a future chief executive of the FAI.

Former Kilkenny All-Ireland hurling captain Eddie O’Connor has castigated plans for mandatory blood-testing of GAA players, stating that if it becomes mandatory players will have to paid as professionals.

2016 is set to be another landmark year in the history of the GAA, after it was confirmed yesterday that blood testing would be carried out in the association for the very first time.

The Ireland team could be in line to vacate their Gannon Park base in Malahide to move to the new National Training Centre in Abbotstown.

The Flora Woman’s Mini Marathon was forced into a U-turn after its refusal to allow a blind woman to run with a male guide caused a social media outcry.

With two spectacular cock-ups seeing drugs temporally legalised, and heterosexual marriage nearly outlawed, it was perhaps not the best day for this unlucky and unloved Government to celebrate its fourth anniversary in power, writes Shaun Connolly.

Moves to deal with the mortgage crisis were promised by Taoiseach Enda Kenny as he insisted the Government had much to be proud of after four years in power.

Equestrian: US-based riders get the chance to show off their horsepower to Ireland manager Robert Splaine in today’s $200,000 Furusiyya Nations Cup opener in Ocala, Florida, though Kevin Babington got in early last night when winning the 1.50m grand prix qualifier on Mark Q.

Ireland is a "Third World" nation when it comes to the physical sporting health of its young people, according to a leading expert in the field.

Ireland’s 2016 Olympic ambitions have received a €2 million cash injection that will allow sports to fund acclimatisation camps, meet competition costs and, in some cases, provide extra equipment for athletes targeting the Games in Brazil.

A former boxing coach out in the Institute of Sport may be among the most invisible players in Irish sport, but he’s one of its most influential too, writes Kieran Shannon.

ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL:

For all the big crowds and big names that will descend upon his home place in the coming days, you may not have heard about Pat Duffy’s premature passing last weekend.

This morning, the chairman of the national hurling review forum will be out coaching Portroe’s Under 16 Camogie team, encouraging each and every player — his daughter included. "In this country, we knock too much," says Tipperary’s All-Ireland-winning coach Liam Sheedy.

The Waterford County Board have taken the extraordinary decision to cancel all of the senior hurlers’ training until after the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Yesterday’s announcement by the Irish Sports Council that it will spend €7.4m to support major field sports’ governing bodies — the FAI, GAA, and IRFU — is very welcome but it would be even more welcome had more money been available.

Athletics Ireland chief executive John Foley has defended the salaries of its High Performance staff, but refused to reveal how much each individual is being paid.

Derval O’Rourke and Ciarán Ó Lionáird have expressed disappointment at the level of funding they are set to receive in 2014.

World champion Rob Heffernan wants to help walking gain popularity in the US and today’s 107th Millrose Games in Upper Manhattan will give him that opportunity. He spoke to John Riordan

Cycling Ireland President Denis Toomey believes that an indoor velodrome would lead to more medals on the European and World stage after Kildare woman Caroline Ryan was the latest to medal at a major event over the weekend.

Athletics Ireland high performance director Kevin Ankrom believes the association are fronting up to the challenge of turning talented underage athletes into senior performers.

Nothing changes people’s perceptions quite like success.

Women’s rugby in Ireland in riding the crest of a wave — and the benefits may carry all the way to Rio in 2016

A revised support scheme for GAA inter-county players has been agreed and will see €900,000 provided in 2013 and in 2014.

Former world championship silver medallist Olive Loughnane has retired from athletics.

David Gillick has confirmed he has been cut from Irish Sports Council funding for 2013.

You know times are tough when bad news is given a Hollywood makeover and presented as good news simply because it wasn’t quite as horrific as first feared.

As a morality play for our times the Lance Armstrong saga has a pretty hackneyed and distasteful plot.

Cian O’Connor will give Blue Loyd his first international outing since the Dublin Horse Show when he travels to Caen, France, next week.