Football

NCAA bans use of former players in practice — The NCAA Division I Council has banned college football teams from using former players in practice and tabled a proposal to let players participate in four games while still redshirting. The Division I Council announced several rule changes Wednesday, including a new recruiting calendar for all sports not including football and basketball. The council also lifted a ban on alcohol sales at NCAA championships, following a two-year pilot program during which alcohol was available at several events. The change to the redshirt rule, which has drawn wide support from coaches, will be reviewed by the Football Oversight Committee and the Student-Athlete Experience Committee to determine if the proposal should be applied to other sports, and whether the timing of the games played should be regulated.

Titans to exercise Mariota’s 5th-year option — The Tennessee Titans announced Wednesday they will exercise their fifth-year option on quarterback Marcus Mariota. The move keeps the former Oregon Duck under contract through the 2019 season. Titans general manager Jon Robinson made the announcement ahead of the May 3 deadline to declare a fifth-year option for players drafted in 2015. The Titans selected the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft. Mariota has made 42 regular-season starts over the last three years and has completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 9,476 yards with 58 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.

Boxing

Canelo Alvarez suspended 6 months for doping — Nevada boxing regulators have suspended Canelo Alvarez for six months for doping violations. Neither Alvarez nor representatives from Golden Boy Promotions appeared Wednesday during the Nevada Athletic Commission’s monthly meeting, where the suspension was handed down. Alvarez lawyer Ricardo Cestero represented his client via phone. Caroline Bateman, a Nevada deputy attorney general, suggested a punishment of six months from the date of Alvarez’s first positive test, on Feb. 17.

— From wire reports