Milos Raonic withdrew from the ATP Finals with a quad injury before his final round-robin match against Japan's Kei Nishikori on Thursday.

The seventh-seeded Raonic, who lost his first two matches in Group B in straight sets, will be replaced by Spain's David Ferrer, the first alternate at the year-end tournament.

Russia and Qatar were cleared Thursday by a FIFA judge of corruption in their winning bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

FIFA ethics judge Joachim Eckert formally ended a probe into the bidding contests, almost four years after the vote by the governing body's scandal-tainted executive committee. No proof was found of bribes or voting pacts.

Michael Schumacher's family is still confident about the former Formula One champion's future, but isn't giving any new details about his condition.

A message from Schumacher's family posted on his official website Thursday thanked fans and well-wishers "for facing this fight together with him and us."

Novak Djokovic lost the first two games of his match against Stan Wawrinka. After that, there was no stopping the world No. 1.

The top-ranked Serb stayed calm, withstood the early assault from the third-seeded Swiss, and then crushed him 6-3, 6-0 at the ATP Finals on Wednesday to close in on the coveted year-end No. 1 spot.

Brazilian football legend Pele was in a stable condition Thursday following surgery for kidney stones, the Sao Paulo hospital treating him said.

"He underwent surgery this morning to remove kidney stones and for now is clinically stable and recovering," read a statement from the Albert Einstein clinic, signed by Dr. Fabio Nasri.

Carlos Vela scored twice as Mexico beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a friendly on Wednesday to hand Guus Hiddink's team its fourth defeat in five matches since he took over.

The defeat highlighted defensive frailties that have crept into the Dutch team since Hiddink replaced Louis van Gaal after the World Cup. It also heaped more pressure on the coach, who has hinted he will quit if his team loses Sunday's European qualifier to Latvia.

Scientists have discovered gene mutations that give people naturally lower cholesterol levels and cut their risk of heart disease in half.

That discovery may have a big implication: A blockbuster drug that mimics these mutations has long been sold without evidence that it cuts the chance of heart disease. Results of a large study that looked for that evidence will be revealed on Monday.

Fox and the producers of "American Idol" say Randy Jackson is leaving the show after 13 seasons.

In a statement Tuesday, the network and producers call Jackson a key part of the singing contest and say he'll be welcomed back as a visitor.

Fans hoping for a Whitney Houston hologram might have to wait.

Pat Houston, the late singer's sister-in-law and head of her estate, says she's had offers to debut a Houston hologram, but she won't sign on just yet.

Rihanna won't say when she plans to release new music but she is confident about what it sounds like.

"I can't give you any hints of when it will drop. It's going to be great, that's all I'm going to tell you and I'm excited about it," said the singer at a meet-and-greet Wednesday with fans at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.