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VCU coach: Firing is because I am gay

Virginia Commonwealth women's volleyball coach James Finley said he was fired because he is gay. Finley, 52, filed a complaint with VCU's Office for Institutional Equity. University spokeswoman Pamela D. Lepley said an investigation is being conducted and must be completed within 45 days. The coach said he would consider taking legal action if not reinstated. He was fired Nov. 19, one day after the Rams finished 25-6, the best winning percentage (.806) in his eight-year tenure. He was told the decision not to renew his contract had nothing to do with his record . . . Clemson forward Milton Jennings won't play against South Carolina on Sunday, but Tigers coach Brad Brownell decided not to kick him off the team despite Jennings being arrested Wednesday on a charge of possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana, his third arrest in 13 months . . . Four Hofstra basketball players face burglary charges stemming from dorm room thefts. Shaquille Stokes, Kentrell Washington, Jimmy Hall, and Dallas Anglin were suspended.

OLYMPICs

Armstrong may lose Sydney bronze

The fate of Lance Armstrong's Olympic bronze medal from the Sydney Games in 2000 will be addressed when the IOC executive board meets next week in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC wants the medal back because of Armstrong's involvement in a wide-reaching doping scandal. In a separate issue, the International Cycling Union said British judge Philip Otton, Paralympic great Tanni-Grey Thompson, and Australian lawyer Malcolm Holmes will investigate the governing body's links to the Armstrong case . . . The Badminton World Federation decided to change the doubles rules but not the criticized group format in the wake of the match-throwing scandal at the London Games.

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Golf

McDowell leads at World Challenge

Graeme McDowell opened with three straight birdies and finished with a 6-under-par 66 and a three-shot lead at the World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He is at 9-under 135. Bo Van Pelt was tied for second with Keegan Bradley and Jim Furyk. Tournament host Tiger Woods had a 69, four shots off the lead . . . Scotland's Paul Lawrie shot a 3-under 69 for a one-shot lead after the second round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. Lawrie has a 4-under 140 total and a one-shot lead over Ryder Cup teammate Martin Kaymer.

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Miscellany

Revolution pick up 15 options for ’13

The Revolution exercised the 2013 options on 15 players, and declined options on four others. Among the options picked up were those of goalkeeper Matt Reis, midfielder Lee Nguyen, and forwards Diego Fagundez and Saer Sene . . . Superior Court Judge Jessica Silvers dropped the murder case against tennis referee Lois Goodman after prosecutors said they couldn't proceed because of insufficient evidence in the case involving the death of her husband. Goodman, 70, was arrested in August as she arrived to be a line judge at the US Open . . . Olympic backstroke champion Matt Grevers won the 100-yard backstroke (44.55 seconds) and Kevin Cordes won the 100 breaststroke (51.62), both with American records in the Winter Nationals in Austin, Texas . . . Lindsey Vonn won the season-opening downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta, her first win since a stomach bug landed her in the hospital . . . The Toronto Raptors signed former Celtics forward Mickael Pietrus and waived forward Dominic McGuire.