The University of Florida has cleared men’s basketball coach Todd Golden following a four-month Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking.

The school released a statement Monday saying no evidence was found and it ended its investigation.

It comes amid No. 5 Florida’s best season in a decade, with the Gators winning 18 of their first 20 games.

The complaint against Golden accused him of sending photos and videos of his genitalia, making unwanted sexual advances on Instagram and requesting sexual favors.

The Independent Florida Alligator first reported the allegations in early November.

According to the Alligator, Golden’s accusers alleged he made unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, requested sexual favors and sent photos as well as videos of his genitalia while traveling for UF.

On multiple occasions, the report stated, he allegedly took pictures of women walking or driving, photographed their cars and showed up to locations where he knew the women would be.

The university allowed Golden, in his third season at UF, to coach the Gators during the investigation.

hockey

Lightning’s Lilleberg suspended two games

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg has been suspended two games without pay for interference against Detroit Red Wings forward J.T. Compher on Saturday night.

Lilleberg received a minor penalty for the incident, which occurred in the second period of the Red Wings’ 2-0 victory.

Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, Lilleberg will lose $9,062.50, which will go to the players’ emergency assistance fund.

The Lightning play host to the Blackhawks on Tuesday and the Kings on Thursday.

baseball

Orioles bring back Jones in advisor role

Retired five-time All-Star outfielder Adam Jones is returning to the Baltimore Orioles as a special adviser to general manager Mike Elias as well as a community ambassador.

Jones will advise Elias on various matters while serving as a resource for the rest of the baseball operations department and for players.

Jones will begin this new role by working as a guest coach at the Orioles’ spring training camp in Sarasota, Fla.

Jones played for the Orioles from 2008-18 and won four Gold Gloves during that stretch. He made the AL All-Star team in 2009 and every year from 2012-15.

college athletics

Athletes file objections to NCAA settlement

A walk-on football player at Stanford and a gymnast at Temple have filed objections to the proposed lawsuit settlement that’s set to reshape college sports, arguing proposed roster limits and back payments directed to scholarship players are unfair elements in the sweeping legal action that’s set for its final hearing this spring.

David Kasemervisz, who played four seasons at Stanford as a “preferred walk-on,” said language in the House settlement that calls for former players to receive $2.8 billion in back pay for name, image and likeness payments they did not receive before those payments were allowed should include athletes like himself and not just those who received scholarships.

“It is not fair that athletic scholarship status alone determines that one player’s NIL on the field is worth significant broadcast compensation, whereas the teammate alongside him in the same game is worth nothing,” Kasemervisz wrote to U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, while asking to speak at the court hearing scheduled for April 7.

The roster limits could increase the number of scholarships available but that would potentially come at the expense of dozens of walk-on spots that currently go to athletes whose positions could be eliminated by the limits.

An objection filed by seven former and current players in October, and reported on by Sportico, argued the settlement — which gives schools the option to pay up to $20.5 million next school year directly to players — sets payments below market value and is an artificial restraint.

Objections to the settlement are allowed through Friday.

college football

Hokies hire Cardinals’ Siefkes as new DC

Virginia Tech has hired Sam Siefkes as defensive coordinator after he spent the last two seasons as the Arizona Cardinals’ linebackers coach.

Siefkes had come to Arizona after two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He replaces the fired Chris Marve at Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech fired Marve at the end of a 6-6 regular season, before the Hokies’ 24-10 loss to Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Marve had been with the Hokies for three seasons.

soccer

Neymar, Saudi club Al-Hilal part ways

Saudi Arabia club Al-Hilal said it reached an agreement with striker Neymar to terminate their contract by mutual consent.

The Brazilian, once hailed by teammates and rivals as one of the world’s best footballers, played only seven matches for the Saudi club and scored one goal, as he spent most of his time since October 2023 sidelined due to an ACL injury.

The deal was due to expire after Al-Hilal’s participation in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup, which will be played between June 15 and July 13 in the United States.

The club said in a statement published on its social media channels that it “expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal.”

The 32-year-old Neymar barely played for the Saudi club after he joined it from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023 for $94 million.

Neymar picked up his ACL injury, the most serious of his career, playing for Brazil only months after he joined Al-Hilal.

Neymar returned to Al-Hilal in October and had his most recent appearance for the Saudi club was in November.

— From news services