No charges will be filed against San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman for an incident last weekend involving reality TV actress Tila Nguyen, San Diego County Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis announced Friday.
"Our office has determined there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was committed," Dumanis said in a statement. "This case is now closed. No further comment will be made."
Nguyen, also known as Tila Tequila, had signed a citizen's arrest form that said she was choked and restrained by Merriman at his home in Poway early Sunday. Merriman, 25, was arrested and booked by sheriff's deputies.
Nguyen, 27, was taken by ambulance to a hospital. Sheriff's deputies said that Nguyen appeared to have been drinking heavily and that no marks or bruises were apparent.
Merriman had said he was trying to restrain Nguyen from leaving his home while drunk.
-- Tony Perry
TRACK AND FIELD
Semenya decides to skip race
Caster Semenya, the South African track athlete whose gender was questioned after she won the 800-meter race at the world championships in Berlin on Aug. 19, will not take part in a 4,000-meter race at the South African Cross Country Championships in Pretoria today because she was "not feeling well," said her coach, Michael Seme.
Two Australian newspapers reported Friday that gender tests show the world-champion athlete has no ovaries or uterus and internal testes that produce large amounts of testosterone. The international sports federation that ordered the tests wouldn't confirm the reports.
PRO BASKETBALL
Clippers re-sign forward Novak
The Clippers re-signed restricted free-agent forward Steve Novak, nearly 2 1/2 months after extending a qualifying offer to him. The 6-foot-10 Novak averaged 6.9 points in 16.4 minutes in 71 games last season for the Clippers. He also shot 41.6% from beyond the three-point line.
Novak was free to sign an offer sheet with any NBA team, though the Clippers had the right to match any offer. He will make $1.03 million this season.
-- Mark Medina
MOTOR RACING
Edwards wins Nationwide race
Carl Edwards grabbed the lead from Kevin Harvick on pit road with 24 laps to go and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond, Va.
The victory finished off a remarkable race for Edwards, who had to start at the back of the field after his team made adjustments to his Ford after the field was impounded.
