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THE DAY IN SPORTS

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Staff and Wire Reports

Louisville men’s basketball Coach Rick Pitino told police he had sex and paid for an abortion for the woman accused of trying to extort him for $10 million, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

The Courier-Journal of Louisville reported on its website that Pitino told police he had been drinking in a Louisville restaurant and had sex with Karen Sypher in August 2003. The police report said he denied allegations by Sypher that he raped her after the restaurant closed and at another time somewhere else. He said later he gave her $3,000 for an abortion.

Sypher went to police to report the rape allegations last month. A Kentucky prosecutor said the complaint she filed with a police sex-offense unit wouldn’t be prosecuted because it lacked supporting evidence.

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Sypher has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of trying to extort up to $10 million from Pitino and lying to the FBI.

AUTO RACING

Schumacher won’t return to racing

Michael Schumacher called off his much-anticipated Formula One comeback because of lingering neck injuries from a motorcycle crash six months ago.

The seven-time world champion was to fill in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and hoped to return at this month’s European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain. Ferrari announced Tuesday that test driver Luca Badoer would race in Massa’s place.

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Schumacher said on his website he informed top Ferrari officials on Monday evening that “unfortunately I’m not able to step in for Felipe.”

The 40-year-old Schumacher retired at the end of the 2006 season. Since then, he has raced occasionally in a motorcycle series before being injured in a crash.

FOOTBALL

Stallworth can leave his home to train

Suspended Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth will be allowed to leave home confinement to train with a strength and conditioning coach.

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Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy granted a motion to modify the conditions of Stallworth’s house arrest. The 28-year-old, who pleaded guilty in June to DUI manslaughter, will now be allowed to train outside of his home with a coach five days a week in South Florida, according to court documents.

Although Stallworth was suspended by the NFL, he is still under contract with the Browns and remains on the team roster. Stallworth struck and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes, a construction worker who was leaving his job as a crane operator, in a March 14 crash.

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Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith said he hoped to be recovered from a right shoulder injury to play in the regular-season opener Sept. 13. Smith was hurt Monday after hitting the ground hard following a collision with cornerback Chris Gamble at practice.

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel says Tyler Moeller, who was expected to start at linebacker, will miss the season.

The fourth-year junior from Cincinnati was injured when his head hit the floor during a family trip in Florida about two weeks ago.

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Virginia Tech starting tailback Darren Evans will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during practice.

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BASEBALL

Demoted Moyer is ‘disheartened’

Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jamie Moyer lashed out at team management, saying he felt “misled” by the club and “disheartened” by its decision to demote him to the bullpen. Moyer was dropped from the rotation to make room for Pedro Martinez, set to return to the majors when he starts tonight against the Chicago Cubs.

Known for his steady demeanor, the 46-year-old Moyer chose an unusual way to make his statement: He sat in the stands behind the Phillies’ first base dugout at Wrigley Field and addressed the media.

Moyer leads the Phillies in wins and losses with a 10-9 record. His 5.47 earned-run average is among the highest in the majors.

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Scott Schoeneweis has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Arizona Diamondbacks because of depression, less than three months after his wife was found dead at their home.

The 35-year-old left-hander spent three weeks on the bereavement list after his wife, Gabrielle, was found dead May 20 in the master bedroom of the couple’s home in Phoenix.

Since returning June 9, Schoeneweis has given up 15 earned runs in nine innings. A cause of death has not been made public, and an attorney for Schoeneweis said the family has filed suit to keep the records sealed.

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The Cincinnati Reds put newly acquired third baseman Scott Rolen on the 15-day disabled list after his concussion-related symptoms did not lessen. Rolen was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Colorado’s Jason Marquis on Aug. 2.

ETC.

Federer wins easily at Rogers Cup

Roger Federer, playing for the first time since winning Wimbledon, returned to the court with a 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Canada’s Frederic Niemeyer at the Rogers Cup in Montreal. Federer, who took time off while his wife gave birth to twin girls, took a set to find his range and then the top-ranked Swiss star put away Niemeyer.

Andy Murray -- also playing his first match since Wimbledon -- beat France’s Jeremy Chardy, 6-4, 6-2.

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Top-ranked Dinara Safina rallied past unseeded Roberta Vinci, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the third round of the Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio. Third-seeded Venus Williams, making her Cincinnati debut, rolled past qualifier Olga Govortsova, 6-2, 6-2.

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The Washington Wizards said they signed forward-center Fabricio Oberto, who averaged 3.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in four seasons with San Antonio.

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