Biggest sports controversies of 2015

Like always, this year too, amid several record-breaking performances, the sports fraternity also witnessed numerous shocking controversies. The biggest of them being the suspension of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini - two of the most influential men in world football. Here are several other controversies and scandals which made news in 2015:

21 weightlifters suspended in doping scandal

On April 5, 2015, 21 weightlifters were suspended by the Indian Weightlifting Federation after athletes tested positive for banned substances.

Indian Weightlifting Federation provisionally suspends 21 weightlifters in doping scandal

Deflategate

On May 2015, the National Football League suspended the two-time NFL MVP without pay but also stripped the Patriots of both their 2016 first round draft pick and the 2017 fourth round draft pick for deflating footballs in a key AFC playoff contest.

NFL: Tom Brady slapped with four-game ban over `Deflategate`

FIFA Corruption arrests

Seven FIFA officials were arrested at the Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 27, with allegations related to bribery. A total of 14 people were indicted in connection to an US investigation.

Several Fifa officials arrested on corruption charges in Zurich

Greek football scandal

Two Super League club presidents were among 15 people identified by the Athens prosecutor on June 24, for alleged involvement in a match-fixing scandal. They were also suspected of directing a criminal organization.

Greek soccer bosses named in corruption scandal

IPL scam: Lodha panel suspends CSK, RR franchises for two years

The SC-appointed Justice R.M. Lodha Committee suspended IPL cricket franchisees Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from the Indian Premier League for two years. Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra were banned.

IPL verdict: Lodha committee suspends CSK, RR for 2 years; life ban on Kundra, Meiyappan

FIFA suspends Blatter, Platini and Valcke

On October 8, 2015, the Ethics Committee of FIFA provisionally banned Sepp Blatter along with Michel Platini and Jerome Valcke from all football related works for ninety days.

FIFA Ethics Committee suspends Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini, Jerome Valcke for 90 days

Russian doping scandal

On November 9, 2015, an independent commission set up by (WADA) confirmed widespread use of performance enhancing drugs and blood doping by Russian track and field athletes, which were encouraged and covered-up by coaches, doctors, state and sports officials in a 323 page report.

Doping, corruption report set to rock track and field

Oscar Pistorius 

The South Africa's Supreme Court convicted Blade Runner Oscar Pistorius on Thursday of murder for the killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, overturning a previous culpable murder conviction.

Oscar Pistorius guilty of Reeva Steenkamp's murder: South African court