TENNIS - Former world No.1 Maria Sharapova's two-year doping ban has been reduced by nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The five-time grand slam winner can return to tennis on April 26.
GOLF - The biggest names from all corners of the golf world gathered to celebrate the life of Arnold Palmer, who died last month aged 87, at a public memorial service. His private funeral for family was held on Thursday.
TENNIS - Fourth seed Simona Halep beat Yanina Wickmayer 6-2 6-2 to progress to the second round of the China Open. Svetlana Kuznetsova, the ninth-seeded Russian, she saw off Japan's Misaki Doi 6-1 7-5. No.10 seed Dominika Cibulkova is out after the Slovakian lost 6-2 5-7 6-2 to Alize Cornet of France.
RUGBY - France, Ireland and South Africa are the three countries in the running to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, World Rugby has confirmed.
CYCLING - Cycling's governing body has admitted high temperatures could lead to races at next week's Road World Championships in Qatar being drastically reduced in length. The event has already been pushed back to its latest ever date to avoid Qatar's brutal September heat.
SOCCER - FIFA says Chile has been banned from playing a World Cup qualifier at its national stadium and the country's soccer federation has been fined because of the repeated discriminatory and unsporting conduct of its fans.
CYCLING - Colombian star Esteban Chavez has capped his outstanding season by signing a three-year contract extension with Australian cycling team Orica-BikeExchange.
