Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has informed mixed martial arts promotion that he is retired from competition. The UFC confirmed the 39-year-old Lesnar's decision Wednesday.

The former NCAA wrestling champion with the Gophers returned from a 4 ½-year MMA absence last July to beat Mark Hunt at UFC 200, but the result was overturned after Lesnar failed two doping tests. He was subsequently suspended from competition for a year by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which administers the UFC's doping policy.

The decision doesn't affect Lesnar's professional wrestling career, which he has concentrated on most of the past five years. He is scheduled to be part of WWE's WrestleMania in Orlando on April 2.

Hanging skates up

Olympic defenseman Anne Schleper retired from the U.S. women's national hockey team program.

The 27-year-old former Gophers player from St. Cloud earned a silver medal in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, and helped the United States win world titles in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

"I will forever cherish the dreams I accomplished with my teammates and the amazing journey we took together," Schleper said in a statement."

Etc.

• The Gophers opened the Big Ten women's swimming and diving meet with a Big Ten and pool record in winning the 200-yard medley relay (1 minute, 35.55 seconds). Relay members were Tevyn Waddel, Lindsey Horejsi, Danielle Nack and Zoe Avestruz. The time also makes the NCAA "A" cut. Minnesota was third in the 800 freestyle relay with another program record (7:00.61).

• The Gophers were picked to finish in a tie for sixth, with Iowa, in a Big Ten preseason baseball poll. Maryland was selected to win the title.

• Gophers men's hockey forward Tyler Sheehy was named the Big Ten's third star of the week. The spohomore had one goal and four assists in a split at Ohio State.

• Former Macalester volleyball player and assistant coach Sarah Graves was hired as Scots coach.