LITTLE Is certain in the sporting outlook except that drugs and money will continue to cause contro versy

The world of swimming has been blown apart recently by the apparent consumption by the all-conquering Chinese women of the male hormone testosterone to boost their performance

Strong swimming nations suc h as Germany are so dis mayed by the revelations which followed the announce merit of 11 positive drug tests at the Aslan Games that they are fxryeottlng the World Cup short course meeting In Beijing in January

Inevitably more sportsmen and women will join Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona and Sierra Leonean athlete Horace Dove Edwin in the drugs hall of si is me o»*inlrr national Ie tier a tloos step up thetr attempts tn wipe out the menace of per Iwnanu- enhanc ing drugs

Money has also got out of hand as was slxrwn l»y a year In which baseball s World Series was wiped from Ilie cal endar for the first time In Ils history in a dispute over

Nevri i lieless prole»*ional •port* wages will continue to

Even in iioUucuiiiy aiiutlcur sport* such a* athletics or rugby union tiw superstars are nulllonaire* In Europe and North Amcrioi I lie tax author Hie* are taking a close look at some ol the earnings ol amateur' sportsmen and women and more financial scandals will surface.

But tans have a lot to look forward to in 1995 even with out tiie Olympic s or soccer World Cup In May and June South Afnca stages the Rugby .World Cup and the Athletics World Championships takes plate in Sweden in August

Among the athletes on display tn Sweden will be the in comparable Russian pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, aiming for an incredible fifth title

Champions expected to retain their crowns include Algeria s middle-distance marvel Noureddine Morceli and Cuban high jumper Javrer Sotomayor Both athletes were so far ahead of the opposition in 1994 that only an injury or a major upset look capable of preventing them retaining their titles.

Rapidly improving Australian sprinter Cathy Freeman and Kenya's Tecla Laroupe. 21-year-old winner of the New York Marathon may also be seen on the medal rostrum.

Best bet for success 'in South Africa Is a Southern Hemisphere side. New Zealand and Australia won the first two editions of the World Cup and few would bet against them or the hosts on their own turf.

A resurgent Wales could be lead the way for the European nations but much of 'he interest will focus on the newly emerging nations. Ivorv Coast beat off Namibia and Zimbabwe to qualify for the first time and untraditional rugby nations such as Canada and Italy are. making rapid Improvements.

Soccer, though. Is still the world's most avidly watched game. Week In. week out fans will continue to follow the for

lune* of tiielr faveurHe pi-nrr* or cIuIm.

With AC Milan on the wane in Italy » Nene A the way could lie < lear for Purnba to pul a new name on the trophy lor the first tune ntncr 1991

Parma may also have next year’s European player of the year Gianluca Vtalh i* stunning everyone wjlh hl* goal gtab blng exploits de*pue being virtually ignored for the na tlorial' side for the last two years Italy, three tune* win tiers of the World Cup. arc struggling to qualify for the 19 9 6 E u r o p e a n

Championships

In Spain the race is as closely contested as ever. Dutchman Johan Cruyffs Barcelona are tn danger of being deposed for the first time tn five years. Traditional rivals Real Madrid have set the pace In the first half of the season, chased closely by the unfashionable Coruna and Real Zaragoza

At least one old favourite can be relied on Aided by Frenchman Eric Cantona and Russian Andrei Kanchelskis.

Mux healer United are figiH I ng hard to retahl thetr title In an Engh*h Premier league which Mill attract* huge tele-viaion audience* around the world despite the relative lack of ouetr** of the national team

In cycling, no credible chai Irtnjrr has emerged to Spain'* Miguel Indurain II he ran win >ls fifth consecutive Tour de rance near July he will go in the record books a* the first person lo do so. ahead of such greats a* Eddy Mercyx and Jacques Anqueul

On tout wheels, the season which stretches from March to November for Formula One motor racing looks set to be dominated again by the duel between Germany s reigning world champion Michael Schumacher and Britain s Damon Hill The return of the 4 1 year-old former world champion Nigel Mansell, after nearly two years racing Indy Cars, may add another dimension.

Tennis is likely to have an unpredictable year Pete Sampras still leads the way in the men s game but the mer curial, charismatic Andre Agassi took the US Open in September Others such as Michael Chang and Goran Ivanisevic lie in wail should Sampras slip up.

With Monica Seles seemingly destined never to return to i lie game she dominated so thoroughly, the women's competition ig wide open. Steffi Graf. Arantxa Sanchez-Vfcario and Conchita Martinez all won titles last year but the bright new hope on the horizon is Lindsay Davenport of the US.

A number of prodigies who have barely reached puberty will be playing on the women's circuit but after the problems ol Jennifer Capriati an element of sanity seems lo have returned. An age limit of 15 has been placed on professionals next year, rising to 16 the year after — Gemini Nfws

About the Author: Phil Mtnshull Is a British sportswriter and a regular hroadcas hr on the BBC World Service