NASCAR driver Kyle Larson suspended for racial slur

NASCAR indefinitely suspended Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro, for saying a racial slur during an iRacing event Sunday evening. The sanctioning body issued the penalty Monday morning.

NASCAR is also requiring that Larson attend sensitivity training.

During the "Monza Madness" exhibition race at Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy on Sunday night, Larson appeared unaware his microphone was being picked up on the stream.

"You can't hear me?" Larson said to his spotter, and then said the slur.

Other drivers immediately erupted in shock.

"Kyle, you're talking to everyone, bud" Xfinity driver Anthony Alfredo said.

"Yep, we heard that," iRacing driver Aron MacEachern said.

Larson, who is half-Japanese, is a graduate of NASCAR's "Drive for Diversity" program, which was established to attract minority individuals and women to the sport.

"I feel very sorry for my family, my friends, my partners, the NASCAR community, and especially the African-American community," Larson's said in the apology video. "I understand the damage is probably unrepairable, and I own up to that. I want to let you all know how sorry I am."

The NFL and its players union have agreed to conduct virtual offseason workout programs because of the COVID-19 pandemic until every team is permitted to open its facilities.

Teams can hold voluntary classroom instruction, workouts and non-football educational programs using online platforms.

The three-week, virtual offseason starts Monday for teams with new head coaches and April 27 for the others. It runs through May 15.

• Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are among 12 players confirmed to play in the virtual Madrid Open tennis tournament this month. David Goffin, John Isner, Karen Khachanov, Eugenie Bouchard, Kristina Mladenovic and Kiki Bertens also will participate in the video game from their homes in the April 27-30 online competition that is expected to be broadcast live on TV and social media channels.

• Most international soccer might not be played until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions and the need to give club competitions the chance to resume, FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani said.

Football: The XFL filed for bankruptcy Monday, likely spelling the end of the second iteration of the league.

College basketball: Kansas guard Devon Dotson is entering the NBA draft. The 6-2 guard averaged 18.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and four assists.

NBA: The Bulls announced that Arturas Karnisovas is their new executive vice president of basketball operations and Gar Forman was fired as general manager and top executive John Paxson will move to a new role as senior adviser of basketball operations.

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