Newsmakers

Suspended Another Canadian junior hockey player has been suspended for a doping violation after using what is believed to be a contaminated supplement. Forward Spencer Asuchak of the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars was banned for eight games after testing positive for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant that the World Anti-Doping Association added to its banned substance list in 2009.

• West Virginia’s leading scorer, Casey Mitchell, has been suspended indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins didn’t elaborate in a statement announcing the suspension of the 6-foot-4 senior guard.

Filed Former Southern California running back Stafon Johnson has sued the university and an assistant conditioning coach for negligence in the weight-room accident that crushed his throat in 2009. Johnson’s suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages. The suit says Johnson suffered permanent injuries and loss of future earnings.

Added The Dallas Mavericks have added sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic. Stojakovic was waived by Toronto after playing only eight games this season with the Raptors and New Orleans Hornets because of knee problems. To clear a roster spot, the Mavericks traded fourth-string center Alexis Ajinca to Toronto for the rights to Georgios Printezis, who is playing in Spain.

Traded The Oakland Athletics have traded right-hander Clayton Mortensen to the Colorado Rockies for minor league righty Ethan Hollingsworth. Oakland also announced it has agreed to terms with third baseman Andy LaRoche on a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Injured Tennessee women’s basketball guard Angie Bjorklund has sprained her right foot, and coach Pat Summitt is uncertain if the senior will play Thursday night against Mississippi State. Associate athletic director for sports medicine Jenny Moshak says she believes Bjorklund’s injury happened over time and was not the result of a specific incident. The 6-foot Spokane Valley native is Tennessee’s all-time 3-point basket scorer with 283 3-pointers.

• Minnesota point guard Al Nolen will have surgery to replace a pin in his broken right foot, raising the question about whether he’ll be able to play for the Gophers again this season.

Replaced Former Mets teammate Wally Backman has replaced Tim Teufel as manager of New York’s Double-A Binghamton farm team in the Eastern League. Backman managed the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones to a 51-24 record last season.