BASEBALL
Darvish exonerated
Major League Baseball has determined Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish had no role in any of the activities that led to the arrest of his brother in Japan for allegedly running an illegal gambling ring. MLB was looking into the October arrest of Sho Darvish as part of standard protocol and not investigating the pitcher, according to the person who spoke Monday night on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because MLB and the Rangers have not publicly released the findings. The person said the investigation found no involvement by Yu Darvish. Sho Darvish was arrested after he reportedly took about 1,850 bets on MLB games as well as professional baseball games in Japan. His arrest came after a police investigation in Japan that lasted more than a year. It was unclear if any bets were taken on games involving the Rangers. The Japan Times said Osaka police have not accused Yu Darvish of any wrongdoing. Yu Darvish issued a statement last week that he understood that MLB had to look into the situation, and was confident he would be cleared.
• Josh Tomlin has shown toughness and tenacity during his time with the Cleveland Indians. On Tuesday, he was rewarded for it. Tomlin and Cleveland agreed to a $5.5 million, two-year contract, a deal that can earn the right-hander $11.75 million over three seasons. The 31-year-old agreed Jan. 15 to a $2.25 million, one-year deal that avoided salary arbitration. The new agreement adds a $2.5 million salary for 2017 and gives the Indians a $3 million club option for 2018 with a $750,000 buyout. Tomlin can make another $2 million annually in performance bonuses based on innings and starts in 2017 and, if the option is exercised, in 2018. One of the AL's best pitchers last September, Tomlin returned from shoulder surgery last year to go 7-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 10 starts. Tomlin had shoulder surgery last March and began the season on the disabled list. He was activated in July, made one minor league start at Class AAA Columbus and then joined the Indians, solidifying the backend of one of baseball's strongest rotations. He went 3-1 in five starts in September, pitching two complete games.
NFL
Manning allegations reviewed
The NFL said it is conducting a comprehensive review of allegations that Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning had human growth hormone delivered to his house. There's no timetable to complete the investigation, but it's not expected before Denver plays Carolina in the Super Bowl on Feb. 7. League spokesman Brian McCarthy said the inquiry, which began weeks ago, involves reviews of records, interviews and coordination with other agencies. Al Jazeera reported last month that an intern at an Indianapolis anti-aging clinic was secretly recorded suggesting that Manning's wife received deliveries of HGH, which is banned by the league. Manning, then with the Colts, was rehabbing from shoulder surgeries. The intern, Charles Sly, has since recanted his story. Manning angrily denied using performance-enhancing substances and called the report "complete garbage."
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Peterson new OLC
Former Florida and NFL linebacker Mike Peterson was named South Carolina's outside linebackers coach, finishing off the on-field staff of new Gamecocks Coach Will Muschamp. Peterson served on Florida's strength and conditioning staff since retiring from a 14-sesason NFL career in 2012. Peterson will work with linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler. Peterson played linebacker at Florida under coach Steve Spurrier from 1995-98 and was part of the Gators' national championship team in 1996. He was a second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. Peterson also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons.
• Florida State University's booster organization will pay most of the defense fees from a lawsuit brought by a former student who said the school failed to adequately investigate allegations that she was raped by quarterback Jameis Winston. Seminole Boosters Chairman David Rancourt said in an email to members that the organization will pay about $1.3 million of the university's $1.7 million legal fees. The state's Risk Management Fund will pay the remainder and the $950,000 settlement to Erica Kinsman and her attorneys. The Title IX lawsuit was settled Monday. Rancourt said the group has long provided supplemental funding to be used by the school. Those funds came from money generated by business operations and not private donations that fund student-athlete scholarships and athletics.
SOCCER
U.S. qualifiers named
World Cup champions Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan and Hope Solo headlined the roster announced Tuesday by U.S. women's national team Coach Jill Ellis for next month's Olympic qualification tournament. Ellis also included promising young players Emily Sonnett, Samantha Mewis, Crystal Dunn and 17-year-old sensation Mallory Pugh. The team will play in the qualifying tournament for the North American, Central American and Caribbean region, scheduled for Feb. 10-21 in Houston and Frisco, Texas. The U.S. team opens group play against Costa Rica on Feb. 10. The roster includes 17 field players and three goalkeepers. Seven players were on the roster for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The United States has won three consecutive Olympic gold medals. Sydney Leroux and Amy Rodriguez, who played in the World Cup, are pregnant and won't be able to take part in the Olympics.
TENNIS
Independent review set up
Responding to reports that possible evidence of match fixing was not properly investigated, tennis' governing bodies are setting up an independent review of the sport's anti-corruption group, a person familiar with the plans told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the review of the Tennis Integrity Unit had not yet been announced. The official word is supposed to come at a news conference on the grounds of the Australian Open today. ATP Executive Chairman and President Chris Kermode, International Tennis Federation President David Haggerty and Wimbledon Chairman Philip Brook are scheduled to attend. Those three are members of the Tennis Integrity Board, with Brook as chairman, a rotating position. The review will be run out of London, according to the person familiar with the plans. As the year's first Grand Slam tournament began last week, the BBC and BuzzFeed News published reports saying tennis authorities failed to thoroughly pursue evidence of match fixing involving more than a dozen players who have ranked in the top 50 over the past decade. No players were named.
OLYMPICS
Expanded investigation sought
U.S. Olympic athletes have sent a letter to leaders of the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency urging them to expand the investigation into Russian doping to sports beyond track and field. The letter came in response to the two-part report detailing doping inside Russia's track team, the sport's international governing body and allegations the government participated in the fraud. The letter, sent to IOC President Thomas Bach and WADA President Craig Reedie and obtained by The Associated Press, said that while other sports federations might do their own inquiries, WADA and the IOC should take the lead to make sure all Russian sports are investigated. "With evidence of state-supported doping across the whole of sport in Russia, with a corrupt and ineffective ... testing system, and with athletes and insiders coming forward at great personal risk, now is exactly the time to investigate thoroughly," the letter said. "The clean sport movement is at a crossroads. The athletes of the world are watching and waiting." The letter was signed by Sarah Konrad, an Olympic biathlete and cross-country skier who is chair of the U.S. Olympic Committee advisory council. The council, which represents 57 Olympics sports, ratified the letter last weekend. WADA and the IOC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Sports on 01/27/2016