Report Points at Missouri

A report by the NCAA alleges the Missouri men’s basketball program committed multiple rules violations, including an assertion that an assistant coach gave an athlete $250, sources familiar with the report told Associated Press on Monday.

After a lengthy investigation, the NCAA threw out allegations that troubled former player Ricky Clemons received improper academic help to get into Missouri because the charge couldn’t be substantiated, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Associate head coach Tony Harvey, top assistant to Quin Snyder, is alleged to have given Clemons $250, the sources said.

Harvey has denied the allegation. “My story isn’t changing,” he said Monday.

Missouri received the NCAA’s formal “notice of allegations” Friday. University officials declined immediate comment but scheduled a news conference for today.

If the allegations are validated by the NCAA’s Infractions Committee, the school could face recruiting sanctions, including loss of scholarships or recruiting privileges.

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Bill Carr, who spent the last two seasons as the associate head coach at Long Beach State, was hired as the men’s basketball coach at Division II UC San Diego.... Gonzaga scoring leader Ronny Turiaf will return for his senior season, the 6-foot-10 forward said.... Pat Kennedy was hired as Towson’s men’s coach after spending the last two seasons at Montana.

Pro Football

The Denver Broncos waived Steve Beuerlein to give the 39-year-old quarterback time to decide whether he wants to return for an 18th season. The Broncos have five quarterbacks on the roster, but Coach Mike Shanahan said he would welcome Beuerlein back if he decides to play. Beuerlein went on injured reserve after breaking his pinky finger against Minnesota on Oct. 19. He had pins placed in the finger shortly after the injury and recently had more surgery between his last two fingers.

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The Minnesota Vikings released linebacker Henri Crockett and fullback Charles Stackhouse.... The New York Jets re-signed starting right tackle Kareem McKenzie and waived running back Chad Brinker.

Tennis

Maria Sharapova beat Tatiana Perebiynis, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the second round of the Italian Open at Rome. In other matches, No. 10 Silvia Farina Elia beat Barbara Schett, 6-4, 6-4, and No. 14 Francesca Schiavone defeated Nicole Pratt, 6-2, 6-3.

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Defending champion Guillermo Coria of Argentina came back to beat qualifier Nicolas Almagro of Spain, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, in the first round of a tournament at Hamburg, Germany. Also advancing was Marat Safin, who saved two set points in the first set en route to a 7-6 (6), 7-5 victory over Sebastien Grosjean.

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Austria chose Innsbruck as the site for its July 10-11 Fed Cup quarterfinal against the United States. The teams will play on clay.

Jurisprudence

Former NFL star Thurman Thomas was arrested and charged with marijuana possession, police at Fairhope, Ala., said.

Thomas was arrested at a hotel early Saturday. He had one partially smoked marijuana cigarette in his possession, Fairhope police spokesman Craig Sawyer said. The former Buffalo Bill running back did not immediately return a call from Associated Press on Monday.

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A pretrial hearing for former USC receiver Sandy Fletcher was continued until May 17, said Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office. Fletcher, 23, has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor counts relating to possession of a loaded firearm in his car.

Miscellany

Jockey Rick Wilson was still in critical condition with head injuries two days after falling from his horse at Pimlico, but his agent said he is improving. “Things are looking positive,” Wilson’s agent, John Salzman Jr., said in a statement posted on a Pimlico website.