Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan fight canceled over failed test

The anticipated world junior-welterweight title rematch between Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan in Las Vegas on May 19 was canceled Wednesday by Golden Boy Promotions because of the fallout from Peterson’s positive test for testosterone.

“It’s unfair to the public, HBO and the hotel [Mandalay Bay],” said Golden Boy Chief Executive Richard Schaefer, whose decision came after he was informed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that it would conduct a special session Tuesday to weigh Peterson’s licensing.

Peterson said he had a therapeutic reason for using testosterone beginning in November, but he never told the testing agency, and Schaefer said he will now seek to have Peterson’s controversial, narrow decision victory over Khan in December ruled a no-contest. Khan will discuss his future with Schaefer on Thursday.

Additionally, Schaefer said he will move undercard title fighter Adrian Broner to a July 21 bout in Cincinnati, perhaps against Vicente Escobedo.

—Lance Pugmire

ETC.

Occidental fires Widolff

Football Coach Dale Widolff has been fired by Occidental College after an NCAA investigation into recruiting at the Division III school, college officials announced. Widolff, who was suspended six weeks without pay in August 2010 for a violation of NCAA rules and college policies, coached at Occidental for 30 years; his teams won 11 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles.

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The U.S. and Canadian men’s volleyball teams remained unbeaten in pool play, advancing to Friday’s semifinals of the NORCECA Olympic qualifying tournament at Long Beach State. The U.S. knocked off Mexico, 25-23, 25-19, 25-14, as expected, but Canada stunned an uncharacteristically sloppy Cuba, ranked fifth in the world, winning in straight sets, 25-21, 25-17, 25-21.

To keep its Olympic hopes alive, Cuba will have to beat Trinidad and Tobago in Thursday’s quarterfinals, probably setting up a meeting with the U.S. in the semifinals. The winner of Saturday’s title game is the only team from the region guaranteed a berth in the London Games.

—Kevin Baxter

Ducks star Ryan Getzlaf broke a tie midway through the third period to help Canada beat Switzerland, 3-2, in the world hockey championships at Helsinki, Finland.

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Former Chargers stars Dan Fouts, Rodney Harrison and LaDainian Tomlinson are scheduled to speak at a memorial service for Junior Seau on Friday evening at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

Also scheduled to speak are former Chargers coach Bobby Ross and former NFL safety John Lynch.

Seau committed suicide on May 2 at his home in suburban Oceanside. He played 20 seasons in the NFL, the first 13 with the Chargers.

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Roger Federer rallied to beat Milos Raonic, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4), at the Madrid Open to narrowly avoid his earliest tournament exit in two years.

Federer hasn’t been eliminated in the second round of a tournament since the 2010 Rome Masters, and the 16-time Grand Slam champion had to call on his wealth of experience and shot-making abilities to survive an early scare against the 23rd-ranked Canadian.

Earlier, Rafael Nadal had an easier time in his first match on the blue clay as he beat Nikolay Davydenko, 6-2, 6-2.

Defending women’s champion Petra Kvitova lost to Lucie Hradecka, 6-4, 6-3, and top-seeded Victoria Azarenka beat Ana Ivanovic, 6-4, 6-4.