Briefs | Track and field: South Africa says Semenya will keep medal

Track and field

South African sports ministry: Semenya keeps medal: South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential, the South African sports ministry said Thursday.

The question of whether she remains eligible to compete as a woman remained uncertain.

The ministry also said in a statement the International Association of Athletics Federations has agreed to allow the 18-year-old Semenya to keep her prize money.

On Wednesday, the IAAF said the gender tests performed on Semenya had not been completed. The track and field governing body had been expected to announce its findings today.

On Thursday, the IAAF said it was sticking by its statement and could not confirm the South African ministry statements.

Gay, Richards win Jesse Owens Award: Tyson Gay and Sanya Richards have both won the Jesse Owens Award for a second time. It's USA Track & Field's highest honor.

Soccer

Donovan wins MLS MVP: Long considered the best player in the U.S., Landon Donovan is now the best player in Major League Soccer.

The Los Angeles Galaxy forward and six-time national player of the year was named the MLS most valuable player for the first time.

Despite all his accolades as the leader of the U.S. national team, Donovan had yet to be recognized by his own league until this season when he helped the Galaxy race to the MLS Cup final.

Los Angeles will face Real Salt Lake for the MLS title on Sunday night at Qwest Field. Donovan beat out FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham, the league's goal scoring leader with 17, and New England midfielder Shalrie Joseph for the award.

Irish demand replay with France: Ireland appealed to France and FIFA to replay their World Cup playoff after an obvious hand ball by Thierry Henry set up the deciding goal.

Ireland's government and soccer association asked for Wednesday's 1-1 draw in the second leg at Stade de France to be replayed.

FIFA said it received Ireland's request for a replay, though it was unclear if the governing body of soccer would seriously consider it.

Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni called the prospect of a rematch "impossible." Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen said he would "have a chat about it" with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at a meeting of the 27 EU leaders in Brussels.

Toronto FC hires Preki: Predrag Radosavlijevic, also known as Preki, is the new coach of Toronto FC. He was MLS coach of the year with Chivas USA in 2007 and played indoor soccer with the Tacoma Stars in the 1980s.

Baseball

Selig says some clubs lost money: Some teams lost money in 2009, commissioner Bud Selig said after the final owners meeting of the year.

Selig said final figures for this year are still being calculated and everyone is living in the most difficult economic times since the Great Depression. He declined to identify the teams.

Major League Baseball's average attendance dropped 6.7 percent last season from an average of 32,528 in 2008 to an average of 30,350.

Pettitte, Tatis file for free agency on final day: The Yankees' Andy Pettitte and the Mets' Fernando Tatis have become the final players to file for free agency this year.

Diamondbacks acquire Heilman from Cubs: Reliever Aaron Heilman was acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Chicago Cubs for two minor-league prospects. He spent six seasons with the New York Mets before he was traded to Seattle last December, then was dealt to the Cubs the next month for utility infielder Ronny Cedeno and left-hander Garrett Olson.

Auto racing

F1's Raikkonen confirms sabbatical year in 2010: Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen confirmed he will take a one-year sabbatical from Formula One next season and said it's uncertain whether he will return in 2011.

Penske gives Power full-time ride: Penske Racing has hired Will Power of Australia to drive full time next year after giving the Indy Racing League driver a part-time gig last season.

Sailing

America's Cup challenger pleased with ruling: America's Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing claimed a court victory when a New York judge adopted the unanimous recommendations of three experts regarding technical issues for February's showdown against two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland.

In one of the five issues, the panel agreed that it will be safe to sail the best-of-three series in Valencia, Spain, in February.

NHL

Health officer says Canucks jumped line: British Columbia's provincial health officer said Vancouver Canucks players jumped the line when they received swine-flu vaccinations this week.

Colleges

San Diego State AD resigns: San Diego State athletic director Jeff Schemmel resigned after a university investigation of his travel expenses.

Boxing

Judging shift saves title fight: The California State Athletic Commission has assigned a Swedish judge to Andre Ward's fight against Mikkel Kessler in Oakland, clearing up a dispute over the neutrality of the officiating crew at Saturday's WBA super-middleweight title bout.

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