Newsmakers

Dropped Police say they have found no evidence that WBC middleweight boxing champion Kelly Pavlik and his trainer assaulted a man in a nightclub last weekend in Pavlik’s hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. No charges have been filed. Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes said Tuesday the initial investigation into a report filed by Ronald Cappitte of Boardman, Ohio, has turned up no corroborating evidence.

Requested The University of Alabama formally asked the NCAA to restore 21 vacated wins to the football program in a 29-page appeal. The appeal said the penalty was “so excessive as to constitute an abuse of discretion.” The Committee on Infractions’ levied the penalty stemming from 201 student-athletes in 16 sports obtaining textbooks they weren’t entitled to under their scholarships.

Scheduled Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress will testify before the grand jury that is investigating weapons charges against him. Attorney Benjamin Brafman said Burress would testify this morning. Burress, 31, shot himself in the thigh at a Manhattan nightclub early on the morning of Nov. 29. He was accompanied by teammate Antonio Pierce, who still could be charged in the case.

Lifted The International Olympic Committee lifted a threat to suspend Kuwait from the Olympics after its government made good on a promise to begin changing its sports laws. The IOC said it was satisfied that a decision by the Kuwaiti Council of Ministers meant new laws would be created to protect the independence of sports federations in the Gulf state.

Ended Carolina is parting ways with the player who scored the goal that won them the Stanley Cup in 2006. The Hurricanes bought out the remaining year on the contract of defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, who would have made $2.2 million. Kaberle will now collect almost $1.5 million over the next two seasons.

Celebration Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is bringing the Stanley Cup to his hometown. He’ll arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Aug. 7, his 22nd birthday.