Toney-Rahman decision is changed to a no contest

The California State Athletic Commission announced Monday that it has changed its original decision on the James Toney-Hasim Rahman fight from a technical knockout to a no decision.

Toney stopped Rahman in the third round of their July 16 heavyweight bout in Temecula after Rahman told the ringside doctor that he couldn’t continue because of a cut over his left eye.

The original decision was a technical knockout win for Toney. Rahman later appealed, and after a review, the commission said it was changing the TKO to a no decision, according to Bill Douglas of the state athletic commission.

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PRO FOOTBALL

Rodgers takes over as Favre doesn’t report

With the Brett Favre standoff still simmering, Aaron Rodgers took his place as the Green Bay Packers’ new starting quarterback.

The NFL had not received reinstatement paperwork from Favre as of Monday evening.

“I feel like this is really between Brett and the organization, and I’m just trying to stay focused on the things I can control,” Rodgers said after the team’s first practice at camp in Green Bay, Wis.

“We still have not gotten to the point where we agree on what the best option is,” General Manager Ted Thompson said of Favre. “We have sort of agreed to disagree.”

Receiver Plaxico Burress says it’s his ankle, not his contract, that is keeping him from practicing with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

“If it was only about my contract, I would be home in South Florida relaxing,” Burress said.

There have been suspicions about Burress’ injury because he refused to practice during a June minicamp over the team’s decision not to give him a new contract. He has three years remaining on a deal that will pay him $3.25 million this season, well below what the league’s top receivers earn.

Recently signed Giants offensive tackle Shane Olivea said that he was addicted to painkillers while playing for the San Diego Chargers last season. The 26-year-old Olivea lost his starting job at right tackle in midseason and was released by the Chargers in February, a move he said he asked the team to make.

Olivea said that he did not confront his problem until his family intervened in April. He was treated at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage.

Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson didn’t participate in the Cincinnati Bengals’ first practice of training camp because his right ankle hasn’t fully recovered from surgery.

The NFL informed Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch that he won’t be disciplined by the league for a hit-and-run accident that left a woman injured, because Lynch eventually agreed to plead guilty to a traffic violation, which is not a violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

St. Louis Rams defensive end Victor Adeyanju will be sidelined two to four weeks after breaking his right middle finger in practice. . . . Four-time Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled his left hamstring while running and couldn’t take part in a practice.

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PRO BASKETBALL

Kwame Brown, Pistons agree to two-year deal

Kwame Brown and the Detroit Pistons have agreed to a two-year deal potentially worth $8 million, team president of basketball operations Joe Dumars told the Associated Press.

Brown, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2001, will make $4 million next season. If Brown exercises an option for the 2009-10 season, he will play in Detroit for another $4 million. If Brown doesn’t take the option, he will become a free agent again next summer and the Pistons won’t owe him anything, the AP reported.

Brown earned nearly $9.1 million last season in the final year of his previous three-year deal, which the 26-year-old received in the summer of 2005 in a sign-and-trade from Washington to the Lakers.

The Golden State Warriors re-signed center Andris Biedrins to a six-year contract worth more than $62 million.

Biedrins averaged 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds with the Warriors last season, his fourth with the club.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and restricted free-agent forward Ryan Gomes have agreed in principle on a five-year contract.

The Denver Nuggets acquired forward Renaldo Balkman from the New York Knicks in exchange for guard Taurean Green, forward Bobby Jones and a second-round draft pick in 2010.

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MISCELLANY

Judge to rule on soccer, Olympics situation

A FIFA-appointed judge is expected to rule today on whether soccer clubs can stop their players from competing at the Beijing Olympics.

Two German clubs have appealed a decision by FIFA President Sepp Blatter that players 23 or under must be allowed to play for their country in China.

Twelfth-seeded Tommy Robredo beat Mardy Fish, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening match of the Cincinnati Masters. . . . Marion Bartoli overcame a sore thigh to defeat qualifier Melanie South, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-0, in the opening round of the Rogers Cup at Montreal.

Tony Stewart was fined $10,000 for what the U.S. Auto Club deemed unsportsmanlike conduct during a midget race last week at O’Reilly Raceway Park. . . . Golfer Greg Norman turned down an invitation to play in the PGA Championship.