Rugby Union: Utility back Kurtley Beale has been fined 45,000 Australian dollars ($39,559) for sending an offensive text, but has escaped a ban after being cleared of sending a second “more offensive” photograph, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) said. The 25-year-old was accused of sending “deeply offensive” text messages about team business manager Di Patston, following a heated row on a flight for a test against Argentina in June.

Motorcycling: Dani Pedrosa yesterday topped the time sheets after a rain-affected practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang. Pedrosa was ahead of Aleix Espargaro and Jorge Lorenzo, with all the fastest times set in FP1 before rain delayed and then affected FP2 in the afternoon. Lorenzo was quickest in the wet, ahead of Marc Marquez, Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso and Espargaro. Ped-rosa’s time in the morning gives him the advantage in the provisional Q2 automatic participation slots. The Repsol Honda Team rider set a time of two minutes 01.379 seconds, with NGM Forward Racing’s Espargaro just 0.014secs behind in second.

Athletics: Former 800m world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi has died at the age of 34 following a car accident. The International Association of Athletics Federations confirmed the news in a statement. Mulaudzi claimed the 800m world title in 2009, the crowning achievement of a 13-year career. After claiming a silver medal at the 2000 African Championships, Mulaudzi finished sixth at the Edmonton World Championships in 2001. He won gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, before landing three global medals in 12 months.