Newsmakers

Retired Veteran Paul Kariya announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday after being unable to return from post-concussion symptoms that forced him to miss all of last season. Kariya announced the end of his stellar, 15-season career in a statement released by his agent, Don Baizley. The former star left wing finished his long NHL stint with the St. Louis Blues.

Agreed Golfer Tiger Woods signed a three-year deal to promote a Japanese pain reliever, his first endorsement since he was caught in a sex scandal toward the end of 2009. The deal with Kowa Company Ltd. is geared only toward the market in Japan.

Signed The Vancouver Canucks signed center Maxim Lapierre and defenseman Andrew Alberts to two-year contracts. The 26-year-old Lapierre had six goals, six assists and 80 penalty minutes in 78 regular-season games last season for Montreal, Anaheim and Vancouver. Alberts had a goal, six assists and 41 penalty minutes in 42 games last season.

• Veteran center Nazr Mohammed is staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder, avoiding free agency with the possibility of an NBA lockout and signing an extension.

Sidelined Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom has a more serious leg injury that will require surgery, and the colt won’t race again this year.

Named Carroll College has named former Weber State basketball player and assistant Rachelle Gardner-Sayers as its new women’s basketball coach. Sayers replaces Shawn Nelson, who resigned to take a job at Central Washington.

Announced The New York Rangers bought out the final year of captain Chris Drury’s contract, making the veteran forward an unrestricted free agent after four NHL seasons in New York.

Pleaded Suspended Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drunken driving and was sentenced to a year of probation. His status for next season is unclear.

Admitted Actor Charlie Sheen tells Sports Illustrated in its latest issue that he took steroids “for like six or eight weeks” while filming the 1989 movie “Major League.”

Modified Weightlifting’s world governing body agreed to modify its clothing rules to accommodate a Muslim woman competing for the United States. Kulsoom Abdullah of Atlanta was barred from entering higher-level U.S. competitions. Her Muslim faith requires that she covers her arms, legs and head, which violates international rules governing weightlifting attire.