Michelle Kwan won’t compete in 2009-10 season

Michelle Kwan’s magnificent figure skating career will end without an Olympic gold medal.

The Torrance native, a nine-time U.S. champion, five-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist, announced Friday she will not compete in the 2009-10 season. That means she won’t be in Vancouver in February to try to add a gold medal to the silver she won in 1998 and the bronze she won in 2002.

In a statement released by U.S. Figure Skating, Kwan said she will attend graduate school full time at Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and pursue a master’s degree in international affairs. Kwan, 29, last competed in 2005. She got a medical bye onto the U.S. team for the Turin Olympics, but a hip injury led her to withdraw before the competition began.

“Skating will always be a part of me,” Kwan said in the statement.

-- Helene Elliott

PRO BASKETBALL

Clippers waive backup guard Taylor

The Clippers waived guard Mike Taylor, after he mostly played a backup role last season to starting point guard Baron Davis.

That leaves the Clippers with three point guards, including Davis, Eric Gordon and recently acquired Sebastian Telfair.

Taylor averaged 5.7 points and 2.1 assists in 15.1 minutes a contest in 51 games and five starts.

-- Mark Medina

The Boston Celtics are requesting waivers on former USC guard Gabe Pruitt. . . . Tyler Hansbrough could miss up to two months because of a right shin injury, but the Indiana Pacers think their first-round draft pick will be healthy enough for the start of the season. . . . Forward Hakim Warrick has agreed to a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

PRO FOOTBALL

Seahawks release All-Pro guard Wahle

Two-time Pro Bowl offensive guard Mike Wahle has been released by the Seattle Seahawks before their first practice of training camp. Wahle was released after the team said he failed his physical.

Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman, the No. 17 overall pick, has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be given an opportunity to compete for the starting job. . . . The Detroit Lions signed tight end Brandon Pettigrew, a first-round pick, to a five-year contract. . . . First-round draft pick Andre Smith missed the Cincinnati Bengals’ first practice of training camp in a contract holdout. . . . New York Jets running back Leon Washington reported to the team and participated in drills during the first practice of training camp.

TENNIS

Serena loses; Venus beats Sharapova

Top-seeded Serena Williams lost to Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, in the quarterfinals of the Bank of the West Classic at Palo Alto.

Third-seeded Elena Dementieva also advanced to the semifinals, beating Daniela Hantuchova, 6-2, 6-4. Dementieva will play second-seeded Venus Williams, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Maria Sharapova.

JURISPRUDENCE

McNamee files suit against Clemens

Roger Clemens’ former personal trainer sued him over allegations of steroid use, claiming the major league baseball star ruined his reputation by branding him a liar.

The defamation lawsuit filed in federal court in Brooklyn alleges Clemens began an “intense and coordinated public relations offensive” against Brian McNamee after the trainer told federal investigators and Congress that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 through 2001.

ETC.

Boxer Gatti’s body exhumed

Boxer Arturo Gatti’s body was exhumed to allow the Quebec coroner’s office to perform a new autopsy at his family’s request.

The development comes a day after Brazilian police classified Gatti’s death as a suicide and released his wife, who had been jailed as the prime suspect.

Hawaii football Coach Greg McMackin was suspended for 30 days without pay and has volunteered to take an additional 7% pay cut from his $1.1-million salary for making a derogatory comment while describing Notre Dame’s chant before last year’s Hawaii Bowl. . . . Rain has washed out Sprint Cup qualifying, putting Tony Stewart on the pole at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. . . . The United States won its second straight gold medal in women’s water polo at the world championships in Rome, beating Canada, 7-6, on Kelly Rulon’s penalty shot with 3:42 left. . . . FC Dallas forward Kenny Cooper has been transferred to TSV 1860 Munich, a second-tier team in Germany, pending a medical examination. . . . Major League Soccer says it has suspended Real Salt Lake Coach Jason Kreis for one game and fined him $3,000 for actions that led to his ejection from a game against FC Dallas last week.