Snooker: O'Sullivan warned after missing tournaments

Snooker world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has been given a suspended fine and a warning after being found guilty of failing to attend eight tournaments in 2010.

O'Sullivan, arguably the sport's greatest ever talent, was charged with pulling out of 11 events between August 2010 and March 2012 without a reasonable excuse. The 36-year-old four-time world champion presented medical advice at a hearing with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, who cleared him of late withdrawals from one event in 2011 and two in 2012. But they ruled: "He was however found not to have a reasonable excuse in relation to the eight late withdrawals in 2010."

He was found in breach of the rule that a member must play in a tournament he has entered. He was given a suspended fine of £1,000, a warning and told to pay £1,000 costs.