Maria Sharapova and the science of redemption

A GRIPPING week, when the high horse galloped neck and neck with the spinning machine.

Sports journalists never truly feel more alive than when a juicy doping story breaks, and they get to swap casual indifference for a sport with zealous protective indignation.

But these are special times too for the PR gurus, whose competitive instincts are never better showcased than in the race to get out in front of a story.