Sports briefly

NCAA denies year of eligibility to Mauk The NCAA turned down Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk's request for another season of eligibility, a major setback for the up-and-coming Big East team that finished with a No. 17 ranking.

The quarterback overcame a career-threatening shoulder injury while leading the Bearcats to 10 victories last season, including a 31-21 victory over Southern Mississippi in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

Mauk threw for 31 touchdowns and 3,121 yards in Cincinnati's no-huddle, spread offense and hoped to get one more year to show what he could do now that he's healthy.

• Florida State's sports teams will be on self-imposed probation for two years and some teams will lose scholarships because of an academic cheating scandal, the university said in a report. About 60 student-athletes also have or will suffer some loss of eligibility.

Ronaldo to undergo surgery on left knee Ronaldo traveled to Paris for an operation to repair the ruptured tendon in his left knee, an injury that could end his career.

The three-time FIFA world player of the year was injured in AC Milan's 1-1 draw with Livorno in the Serie A on Wednesday.

• Brazilian soccer star Romario was acquitted of doping when a sports tribunal overturned his verdict, allowing him to return to competition.

Former world champs win Four Continents Former world champions Pang Qing and Tong Jian have another title to add to their collection.

Pang and Tong rallied to beat fellow Chinese Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao and take the pairs title at Four Continents in Goyang, South Korea. It's the third time the 2006 world champions have won Four Continents and gives them a boost going into next month's worlds.

The free dance is today. The women's final is Saturday.

Tennis: Monica Seles officially retired from tennis, five years after she played the last match of a career that included nine Grand Slam singles titles. "I have for some time considered a return to professional play, but I have now decided not to pursue that," the 34-year-old Seles said in a statement released by her agent.

FROM NEWS SERVICES