Off the wire

— MOTOR SPORTS

Allmendinger reinstated

AJ Allmendinger on Tuesday was reinstated by NASCAR, whichsaid he successfully completed its rehabilitation program after testing positive for a banned substance. The process took a little over two months. Allmendinger was suspended July 7 after failing a random drug test in June. His backup“B” urine sample also later tested positive. NASCAR has not revealed the substance, but he has said he tested positive for Adderall, a prescription drug typically used to treat attention deficit disorder. He does not have an ADD diagnosis or prescription, and said he took it a couple of days before the June 30 race at Kentucky Speedway because he was tired. He was released by Penske Racing after his “B” sample failed, and participating in NASCAR’s program was his only hope at reinstatement. Team owner Roger Penske had Allmendinger as his guest at the IndyCar season finale last weekend and said the 30-year-old driver is a viable candidate for rides in NASCAR and IndyCar.Penske even said he’d consider hiring Allmendinger again. Allmendinger said there’s been interest from IndyCar teams, but he’s not sure what comes next. “I don’t have a specific answer, I just know that it will be something I want to do,” he said. “But I also don’t want this to be the end of NASCAR. I don’t want to leave like that. I don’t want to feel like I failed.” Allmendinger ran three seasons in Indy Car and won five races in 2006, right before he was lured to NASCAR by Red Bull Racing.

HOCKEY Layoffs follow lockout

The Florida Panthers announced the layoffs of an unknown number of staff members Tuesday, the third full day of the NHL’s lockout. ThePanthers are believed to be the NHL’s second team to lay off staff members since the league’s collective bargaining agreement with its players expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Saturday and ushered in the league’s fourth work stoppage in the past 20 years. The Ottawa Senators have already had layoffs and fulltime employees have been placed on a reduced work week. A number of teams - those reached by The Associated Press on Monday included Buffalo, Carolina, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Washington and Detroit - said they are not planning lockout-related layoffs at this time, though some warned changes could happen depending on how long the work stoppage lasts. Some teams have announced plans regarding policies for seasonticket refunds or other options, and other clubs like plan on reducing salaries for at least their highestpaid employees.

BASKETBALL Johnson re-signs

The Atlanta Hawks have resigned forward Ivan Johnson, who made a surprise impact as an undrafted rookie last season. The 28-year-old Johnson averaged 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 56 games. He led the team by making 51.3 percent of his shots from the field and ranked fourth in rebounds. The 6-8, 255-pound Johnson was the NBA’s rookie of the month for April. General Manager Danny Ferry announced Johnson’s new deal Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

FOOTBALL Hurd guilty plea close

Former NFL wide receiver Sam Hurd is moving closer to a deal to plead guilty in the federal drug-distribution case against him, his attorney said Tuesday. Prosecutors filed documents Tuesday that said Hurd would plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. The charge carries a recommended sentence of 10 years in prison to life. But attorney Jay Ethington told The Associated Press that the documents were posted prematurely. Ethington said he and prosecutors were still negotiating the terms of any plea agreement - namely which allegations Hurd would acknowledge in an eventual plea. Hurd, 27, played for the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys. He was arrested in December after allegedly accepting cocaine from an undercover agent at a suburban Chicago steakhouse. According to court documents, Hurd took 1 kilogram - about 2 pounds - of cocaine and told the officer he wanted to eventually buy 5 to 10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week to distribute in the Chicago area. Hurd was cut by the Bears after his arrest.He had been free on bail, which was revoked last month when he twice tested positive for marijuana and was accused of trying to buy more drugs earlier this year. Hurd’s trial is currently scheduled for Oct. 9. A co-defendant, Toby Lujan, has already pleaded guilty to a cocaine possession charge. Lujan signed paperwork saying he told an informant for law enforcement about a potential drug buyer named “Sam” who played for the Chicago Bears. WRESTLING Gardner bankrupt

In another setback for one of the world’s most decorated wrestlers, Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner filed for bankruptcy. The move came after Gardner tried to capitalize on his fame in numerous business and publicity pursuits over the years. However, he owes creditors nearly $3 million on a household income of $37,392, court records show. Gardner disputes much of that debt, saying he is a victim of investment fraud, bankruptcy trustee David L. Miller told The Associated Press. Gardner will offer his version in a deposition scheduled for Oct. 10. Less than three weeks later, a Salt Lake City auction house is set to sell off his most valuable belongings, including a Porsche, Harley-Davidson motorcycle, dozens of watches and knives, his wrestling shoes and autographedmemorabilia. Court records say the auction items were seized by the Cache County, Utah, Sheriff’s Office with a court order obtained by his major creditor, Las Vegas-based WestCoast Lending Group Inc. The bankruptcy filing was made Aug. 31. Gardner rose to fame at the 2000 Olympics by toppling Russian Alexander Karelin, who had been unbeaten for 13 years. A year later, Gardner won the world title.

SNOWBOARDING White ‘truly sorry’

Two-time Olympic snowboarding champion Shaun White has apologized for the “unwise choices” he made that left him facing charges of public intoxication and vandalism. Police responded to the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., at 2 a.m. Sunday. A drunken man identified as White pulled a fire alarm, forcing the hotel to evacuate all guests. An employee also reported seeing White destroy a hotel phone. The 26-year-old snowboard star said Tuesday on his Facebook page he wants to apologize for “any inconvenience it caused my family, friends, business partners, the hotel and their guests. He adds that he was “celebrating a happy occasion with a ton of family and friends and got carried away. I’m truly sorry for my poor behavior.”CYCLING Arndt wins time trial

Judith Arndt of Germany successfully defended her individual time trial title Tuesday at the Road Cycling World Championships in Valkenburg, Netherlands. Arndt, who won silver in the Olympic time trial in London and plans to retire at the end of the season, finished the 15-mile race in 32 minutes, 26.46 seconds, an average speed of 27.71 mph. “I’m very proud I was able to defend my title but that won’t change my mind. After this year I’m done,” she said. “I’m relieved that my career is over, I’ve had enough.” American rider Evelyn Stevens was second, 33.77 seconds behind Arndt. Linda Melanie Villumsen of New Zealand was third, 40.57 seconds back.

Sports, Pages 20 on 09/19/2012

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