Here is my two cents:

Yes, a front wheel drive can be a sports car if it's design intent is one of performance, handling, styling, and fun over practicality. Admittedly, there are not many FWD sports cars though.

But here is something else to ponder.....

Not all sports cars are fast. Here's an unlikely comparison: The RWD MGB is a sports car, and the FWD Honda Civic is not.
Even though the stock Civic is faster and could arguably even handle better than the old stock MGB, it doesn't make the Civic a sportscar, nor does it mean the MGB isn't one.

As the Civic's general design emphasis is based more on versatility and practicality over performance. It was designed for comfortably hauling people, groceries, and saving fuel, these attributes are at it's core what it's about, not for fun/looks/performance/handling. Even if it's performance is greater than that of a car that was designed to be a dedicated sporting car.
I think this applies to any other performance car that's basic design is one that was initially designed with a specific duty over performance, like passenger cars
(i.e EVO, M5.) As fast and an EVO is for example, its not a sports car....as slow as a Miata is....it will always be a sports car. That's my take.

But really, this sums it up, no mention of FWD or RWD:
sports car 
–noun
a small, high-powered automobile with long, low lines, usually seating two persons.
Also, sport car.

Origin:
1920–25
sports car
n. An automobile equipped for racing, especially an aerodynamically shaped one-passenger or two-passenger vehicle having a low center of gravity and steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds.