Environmental groups have sailed across the Guanabara Bay venue used to host sailing competitions during last year's Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in order to protest an alleged failure in adequately treating water pollution in the city.

A human arm has reportedly been photographed floating in the much-maligned waters of Guanabara Bay close to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic sailing course.

Whisper it softly, but our sporting scandalometer was slightly steadier last week.

We had the odd moment here and there: a Russian European Games boost and more FIFA Presidential manifestos, and tennis stepped up to the breach, of course, with a new spin placed on old allegations about match fixing.

But the lack of major developments in the ever-escalating athletics and football dramas gave us more time to focus on other issues, including the still uncertain preparations for Rio 2016 after another chaotic week, which began with celebrations marking 200 days until the Opening Ceremony.

Canoe slalom is one of the bumpiest of sports events, but José Perurena, President of the International Canoe Federation (ICF), is expecting a smooth ride for the Rio 2016 Test event due to take place at the end of this month at the Whitewater Stadium within the Deodoro Olympic Park.

Swimming’s world governing body, FINA, has strongly criticised the organisers of the Rio 2016 Olympics, accusing them of showing “disrespect” for their requirements by providing substandard facilities and failing to act on warnings about the hazardous nature of the open water swimning venue at Copacabana beach and nearby open-air venues for diving, water polo and synchronised swimming.

Jean-Christophe Rolland, France’s President of the International Rowing Federation (FISA), insisted at the close of the World Rowing Championships in his home country that the much-criticised water at the Rio 2016 venue was safe for rowers to compete on.

Rio 2016, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and sailing authorities have been accused of "not caring about athletes" by a prominent blogger as another sailor has complained of falling ill after competing at last week's test event on the polluted waters of Guanabara Bay. 

Pollution worries have been to the fore once again during the Rio 2016 sailing test event on Guanabara Bay, with concerns over rubbish remaining on the course as well as a lack of water quality monitoring from the Rio authorities.