HORSE RACING: 27-year-old amateur jump jockey Sam Lee has been banned for six months after testing positive for cocaine at Warwick races in May. 

James O’Mahony, who chaired the British Horseracing Authority’s disciplinary panel, expressed a concern that “cocaine may be endemic in horse racing” before handing down the punishment. 

Lee will be able to reapply for his licence in November.

MEN’S CRICKET: Pakistan are already 2-0 down before the final leg of their three-match Twenty20 series against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Thursday. 

The tourists were thumped by eight wickets in the first game and slipped to an eight run defeat on Tuesday, despite tailender Faheem Ashraf rescuing them from 30-6 with a rapid 51 from 32 balls. 

Bangladesh are ranked as the world’s 10th best short format team, two places below Pakistan.

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: Wakefield Trinity will be looking to reignite their play-off chances on Thursday evening when they take on Leeds in a West Yorkshire Super League derby. 

Trinity are currently one place off the play-offs in seventh but six points below fourth-placed Leeds. 

League leaders Hull KR are not in action during this round of fixtures but defending champions Wigan, who are four points behind in second, meet the Catalans Dragons on Friday.

MEN’S FOOTBALL: Five Irish teams are involved in Thursday evening’s Europa Conference League second qualifying round first leg matches. 

Current League of Ireland table-toppers Shamrock Rovers are in Gibraltar to face St Joseph’s, Larne host Prishtina, Dungannon Swifts visit Liechtenstein’s Vaduz, St Patrick’s meet Estonian outfit Nomme Kalju and Linfield travel to face Lithuania’s Zalgiris. 

Dundee United also begin their campaign against Una Stratten.