Juiced: In possibly the biggest athletic doping scheme since the fall of the East German athletic empire, the World Anti-Doping Agency in a 323-page report accuses Russia of running a state-sponsored athletic doping operation that involves athletes, coaches, trainers, and doctors. The agency recommends banning Russia from track and field events at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next summer.

The doping agency accuses Russian athletes and officials of widespread fraud at the Sochi games including swapped urine samples, bribes, and installing secret-service agents in the drug-testing lab to ensure favorable results for Russian athletes.

The report also says Russian athletes who should not have been allowed into the London games competed and won medals. “The Olympic Games in London were, in a sense, sabotaged by the admission of athletes who should have not been competing,” the report said.

Flunked Out: Facing a walkout by some of the students and faculty as well as a strike by most of the football team over his handling of campus racial incidents, the president of the University of Missouri announced that he is resigning. The chancellor of the Columbia campus announced his resignation shortly after.

Speaking at a press conference Mizzou President Tim Wolfe said, “The frustration and anger that I see is clear, real, and I don’t doubt it for a second. I take full responsibility for this frustration. I take full responsibly for the inaction that has occurred.”

Blackfish: In a partial win for animal rights activists, Sea World announced that it is phasing out its once-popular killer whale show in San Diego in which the Orcas perform tricks. The company said it’s not getting rid of the whales but presenting them in a more natural environment that is “informative” and carrying a “conservation message inspiring people to act.”

Attendance has been dwindling and company stock is down. Sea World has been fighting a bad image portrayed in the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which accuses the theme park of mistreating the whales in an enclosed environment that makes them frustrated and aggressive. One of Sea World’s whales killed a trainer.

Sea World for the time being will continue with the Orca entertainment shows at their parks in Orlando and San Antonio.

The Air We Breathe: Carbon monoxide in the atmosphere has crossed the scientific Rubicon of 400 parts per million, according to the annual report of the World Meteorological Organization. That’s a rise of 43 percent from the pre-industrial economy and many climate scientists believe that 400-ppm or higher will cause irrevocable damage to the climate.

A separate report says the rise in the average global temperature has crossed the 1-degree mark, actually hitting 1.8 degrees. The combined effect is expected to cause more wild weather, melting ice, and rising sea levels.

Nation: The Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at the University of Virginia sued Rolling Stone magazine for $25 million over a discredited report about a gang rape in the frat house. A statement from the fraternity’s parent organization said, “Rolling Stone published the article with reckless disregard for the truth.”

The magazine published the story a year ago saying a female student named “Jackie” was raped during a party in the house in late 2012. Further checking failed to identify the student Jackie said was the date who led her to the room where she was assaulted, and revealed that the house didn’t have a party that night.

Art News: The early 20^th Century Modigliani painting “Nu Couché” sold at auction last night for 170.4 million. That’s the second highest price for an artwork ever paid at auction. Art buyers appear to have a lot of money on their hands. A Roy Lichtenstein painting called “Nurse” also sold for $95.4 million.

Yack, Yack: With Donald Trump spewing campaign insults and the personal record of several candidates under scrutiny, eight Republican presidential candidates take the stage tonight in Milwaukee for a debate hosted by Fox Business News. After the much criticized debate on CNBC, Fox has promised to stick to economic issues, although the candidates have not promised to stick to the truth.

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