The Mail on Sunday has established that the entire team in the picture – indeed the entire Russian squad for Rio 2014 – is under investigation by FIFA, the sport’s governing body. And today it is asking if all 23 players were part of Russia’s vast state-sponsored doping programme. It is the first time that the cloud of suspicion covering the rest of Russian sport has expanded its dark shadow over football, too, and the revelation poses further questions about Russia’s suitability to stage the tournament.