Ex-USA Gymnastics head indicted, arrested

Former USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny has been arrested after a Texas grand jury indicted him, alleging he tampered with evidence in the sexual assault investigation of now-imprisoned gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

In a statement issued late Wednesday night, the Walker County district attorney’s office in Huntsville, Texas, said Penny was arrested by a fugitive task force Wednesday in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and awaits extradition to Texas. The indictment alleges Penny ordered the removal of documents from the Karolyi Ranch relating to Nassar’s activities at the ranch, near Huntsville. The indictment also alleges the removal was aimed at impairing the ongoing investigation of Nassar.

Boxing

ALVAREZ BETS ON STREAMING >> Canelo Alvarez is boxing’s new $365 million man. Alvarez has signed an 11-fight deal that his promotional company says is the richest athlete contract in sports history, guaranteeing the Mexican middleweight champion at least that much money to have his fights shown on the sports-streaming service DAZN, beginning with his next bout. Alvarez will move up in weight to challenge WBA super middleweight champion Rocky Fielding on Dec. 15 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

A massive moneymaker when he fought on pay-perview, Alvarez will be able to be seen for much cheaper through the subscription service that launched in the U.S. in September and now features perhaps the two biggest figures in boxing in Alvarez and heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Alvarez (50-1-2, 34 KOs) is coming off a victory over Gennady Golovkin. That fight was shown on payper-view. It cost $84.95 to be seen in high definition. It will cost $9.99 a month for a DAZN subscription in the U.S.

Soccer

U.S. WOMEN ROLL TO CONCACAF TITLE >> Rose Lavelle and Alex Morgan each scored, and the U.S. women beat rival Canada 2-0 night in the championship match of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying tournament in Frisco, Texas. The United States improved to 16-0-2 so far in 2018. The team has gone undefeated in 26 straight matches (230-3) dating to last year. Morgan has 24 goals in her past 24 games and was the top scorer of the tournament with seven total goals.

• Jamaica earned a spot in next year’s Women’s World Cup on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Panama in the third-place at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament. Both teams were vying for a first-ever trip to soccer’s premier tournament. Panama still has a chance to qualify in a two-legged playoff with Argentina.

WEMBLEY NOT BEING SOLD TO JAGUARS’ KHAN >> Wembley Stadium is staying in the hands of English soccer. American sports magnate Shad Khan abandoned a $790 million bid for the English Football Association’s main asset after recognizing the extent of opposition to the sale.

Khan, who owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Premier League soccer club Fulham, had seen buying London’s new Wembley as a way of raising the prospects of an American football franchise moving to London.

ROONEY HELPS D.C. UNITED BEAT TORONTO FC >> Wayne Rooney scored a longrange goal, and Bill Hamid had four saves to help host D.C. United beat Toronto FC 1-0. D.C. United (13-118) is unbeaten in its past eight games. The Washington club has a four-point lead over Montreal for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with two games remaining. Defending MLS Cup champions Toronto FC (9-17-6) is out of playoff contention. SOUNDERS CLINCH PLAYOFF BERTH >> Victor Rodriguez had a goal and an assist to help the visiting Seattle Sounders beat Orlando City 2-1 and clinch their 10th consecutive playoff berth. Seattle (16-11-5) has won three games in a row and 12 of its past 14.

College football

MIAMI RETURNS ROSIER TO STARTING QUARTERBACK >> Malik Rosier has his job back. Miami has changed starting quarterbacks again, with Rosier returning to the first-string spot that he lost to N’Kosi Perry three games ago. Rosier led Miami to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division championship last season, and he’ll be back under center when the Hurricanes (5-2, 2-1) resume this year’s title race at Boston College on Oct. 26. Rosier is 14-4 as Miami’s starter.

College basketball

JURY HEARS CLOSINGS AT CORRUPTION TRIAL >> A New York City jury is hearing closing arguments over whether three men committed fraud by concealing cash payments they made to the families of top college basketball recruits. Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah Solowiejczyk said at a federal trial that a former Adidas executive and two codefendants engaged in a cover-up that tricked colleges into giving scholarships to players who should have been ineligible.

Defense attorney Steven Haney argued that his client, business manager Christopher Dawkins, was actually helping the schools.

Motorsports

LARSON FACING NASCAR PLAYOFF ELIMINATION AFTER PENALTY >> Kyle Larson has been docked 10 points by NASCAR for a rules violation that could bring an end to his championship chances.

Chip Ganassi Racing was penalized for breaking NASCAR’s policy on damaged vehicles during the race at Talladega Superspeedway. The points deduction drops Larson to 36 points below the cutoff for the final transfer position to the third round of the playoffs. NASCAR will cut the playoff field from 12 to eight drivers following Sunday’s race at Kansas.