Newsmakers

Placed NASCAR placed Robby Gordon on probation for an incident involving Kevin Conway in the garage at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Las Vegas police officer Barbara Morgan said Saturday that Conway filed a misdemeanor battery complaint after the quarrel that occurred at about 5 p.m. Withdrawn World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has withdrawn from the defense of his IBF and WBO titles against British boxer Derek Chisora after failing to recover from a torn abdominal muscle. The 34-year-old Ukrainian was hurt in training before the original Dec. 11 bout against Chisora, the British and Commonwealth champion.

Expected FIFA President Sepp Blatter said he would welcome the use of goal-line technology at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil if a suitable system can be found. A decision on goal-line technology is expected in March 2012. Blatter hopes more technology tests, which will take place in match conditions, will find a system capable of ruling on disputed goals within a second and provide accuracy. Ten systems failed to meet FIFA’s requirements when they were tested last month, but soccer’s rule-making body agreed to extend trials for another year Blatter has reversed his opposition to high-tech aids for referees, citing the failure to award a goal to England despite the ball clearly crossing the line in a late-round match against Germany at the 2010 World Cup. He has called it a “blatant … and immense error.”

Died Former U.S. Olympic track and field coach Jimmy Carnes died Saturday at Gainesville, Fla., after a 3 1/2-year battle with prostate cancer, said his wife, Nanette. He was 76 years of age. Carnes, a member of the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame, served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic team at the Montreal Games in 1976.

Suspended Two Iowa State football players were suspended from the team after being arrested. Athletic department spokesman Tom Kroeschell says the suspensions of defensive end Jacob Lattimer and tight end Ricky Howard are indefinite. The 22-year-old Lattimer faces charges of assault on a peace officer and interference with official acts, while Howard, 20, is suspected of operating while intoxicated.