New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace is suspended

The NFL suspended New York Jets linebacker Calvin Pace for four games without pay Thursday for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Pace will miss New York’s first four games of the season and be eligible to return for the Monday night game at Miami on Oct. 12.

In a statement issued by the Jets, Pace said the ban is a result of his taking an over-the-counter dietary supplement that he was unaware violated the NFL’s policy.

MOTOR RACING

Mayfield misses Daytona deadline

Jeremy Mayfield missed the deadline to enter this weekend’s race at Daytona Beach, Fla., after successfully fighting NASCAR to get back behind the wheel following a failed random drug test. His only hope for participating in Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway is as a relief driver, a change NASCAR must approve.

COLLEGES

Woods, Tevaga off UCLA squad

Safety E.J. Woods and offensive lineman Sonny Tevaga are no longer on the UCLA football team, the school announced.

Woods, a redshirt freshman, said by phone that he was transferring to Santa Monica College and would be there until December before trying to rejoin a Pacific 10 Conference school in 2010-11.

Woods is facing six charges of battery and sexual battery stemming from three incidents at off-campus apartments between October and January, said a spokesman in the Los Angeles city attorney’s office.

“I just felt like [UCLA] wasn’t a good fit for me,” Woods said, adding that he won’t try to rejoin the Bruins. “I told [UCLA Coach Rick] Neuheisel that and he understood and that’s why he let me do my thing.”

Tevaga, a redshirt junior, played in three games last season, starting at right guard against Tennessee. His plans are unknown.

-- Baxter Holmes

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Art Venegas is out as UCLA’s men’s track and field coach after 10 years. The university announced his departure Thursday, one day after his contract had expired.

The Bruins won a Pacific 10 Conference championship and two West Region team titles during Venegas’ tenure.

JURISPRUDENCE

Leaf’s fugitive case is dismissed

An attorney for Ryan Leaf says a fugitive action filed against the former NFL quarterback in Washington state has been dismissed. The case was filed against Leaf after he was arrested by U.S. Customs agents as he crossed the border from Canada in mid-June on his way to face drug and burglary charges in Texas.

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Former major leaguer Jim Leyritz was arrested in South Florida on charges of domestic battery against his former wife, two months before his trial on a DUI manslaughter charge was set to begin.

ETC.

Players added to L.A. tennis field

Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Nadia Petrova and Dominika Cibulkova will play at the L.A. Women’s Tennis Championships on Aug. 3-9 at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

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Kings defenseman Drew Doughty and three members of the Ducks -- defenseman Scott Niedermayer and forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry -- were among 46 players invited to an orientation camp for the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team. Also invited were former Duck defenseman Francois Beauchemin, now a free agent, and Colorado’s Joe Sakic, who has been considering retirement.

-- Helene Elliott

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Sparks center Lisa Leslie has the most WNBA All-Star votes at center for the Western Conference with 24,305. Leslie, who sprained her right knee June 19, isn’t expected to return to the lineup until July 22, three days before the All-Star game in Connecticut. Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi leads all players with 32,921 votes.

-- Mark Medina

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Richard Shapiro, the former head of the California Horse Racing Board, was charged with one felony count of vandalism for allegedly damaging a vehicle owned by a longtime rival, the Los Angeles County district attorney said.

Shapiro was charged with a felony because the financial damage done to horse racing advocate Jerry Jamgotchian’s 2008 Jaguar was in excess of $6,700, district attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons told The Times. Shapiro was not immediately available for comment and Jamgotchian declined to comment.

-- Lance Pugmire