Speculation swept Canada's biggest city on Thursday after Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who made global headlines last year for admitting he had smoked crack cocaine, was hospitalized with an abdominal tumor just six weeks before the mayoral election.
With biopsy results expected by the end of the week, Ford's illness raised the possibility he might have to pull out of the Oct. 27 election after having clung to power through a string of scandals, including his appearance in expletive-ridden videos and an admission he bought illegal drugs while in office.
Ford's brother and campaign manager, Doug Ford, was expected to give an update on the mayor's health and political future on Thursday, but pundits were already mulling the mayor's options in a close election race in which Ford is one of three front-runners.