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Sports in Brief: Klitschko out after back injury

Wladimir Klitschko's boxing adviser says the Ukrainian has withdrawn from his WBO and IBF heavyweight title defense against British challenger Dereck Chisora because of a torn muscle in his back.

Wladimir Klitschko's boxing adviser says the Ukrainian has withdrawn from his WBO and IBF heavyweight title defense against British challenger Dereck Chisora because of a torn muscle in his back.

Finkel said that the injury wasn't serious but forced the cancellation of Saturday's bout, which was scheduled to be held in Mannheim, Germany.

A judge in Las Vegas agreed to let Floyd Mayweather Jr. remain free pending a Feb. 3 trial date on a misdemeanor battery complaint alleging he poked a security guard in the face several times during a confrontation outside Mayweather's home. Mayweather was already free on $33,000 bail on unrelated felony coercion, grand larceny, and robbery charges pending a Jan. 24 court date.

SWIMMING: Teri McKeever will be the first female head coach of a U.S. Olympic swimming team, leading the women's squad at the 2012 London Games. USA Swimming also picked University of Florida coach Gregg Troy to head the men's team.

WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOCCER: Belmont University has come under fire for forcing out its women's soccer coach, Lisa Howe, whom her players say was let go for telling them she is expecting a child with her same-sex partner.

In a statement from her attorney, Howe told the Associated Press she misses her team, but the policies and attitudes at Belmont would have to change for both her and her family to feel safe and welcome.

GOLF: England's Florentyna Parker shot a 5-under 67 to take a 1-shot lead in the opening round of the Dubai Ladies Masters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Wie finished with a 71 after the miscue on the eighth hole at the season-ending tournament on the Ladies European Tour.

Maple Shade's Angela Oh shot an opening-round 70 and sits 3 shots off the pace at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in Daytona Beach, Fla. Oh is in an eight-way tie for eighth. Lisa Strom, who played high school golf at Lansdale Catholic, shot a 76. The top 20 players in the five-round event will earn full 2011 exemptions.

HORSE RACING: Gov. Christie vetoed the New Jersey racing commission's decision to hold full racing schedules at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks next year.

Christie said it would be inappropriate to approve the schedules while lawmakers continue to review proposals to reduce the state's role in operating horse racing.

LAW AND ORDER: A lawyer for Mark Kerrigan, the brother of champion figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, is seeking a more detailed explanation of the manslaughter charge against him.

Mark Kerrigan is accused in the death of his father, Daniel Kerrigan, following what prosecutors have said was a violent argument in the family's Stoneham, Mass., home on Jan. 24.

Defense lawyer Janice Bassil argued that prosecutors should outline the legal theory behind the charge.

A federal prosecutor in Detroit said he expected guilty pleas from four former athletes charged in a point-fixing scheme at the University of Toledo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morris said he was expecting plea deals with former football players Adam Cuomo, Harvey "Scooter" McDougle Jr., and Quinton Broussard, and former basketball player Anton Currie. - Staff and wire reports