Brett Favre
Brett Favre has been fined $50,000 (£33,333) by National Football League (NFL) bosses for "failure to cooperate" with an investigation into allegations he texted explicit pictures to a female reporter.
The married Minnesota Vikings football player hit headlines in October (10) over claims he sent images of his penis to former New York Jets employee Jenn Sterger when he was the team's quarterback in 2008. The sportsman denied the allegations.
NFL officials subsequently launched a probe into the claims to determine whether Favre breached the organisation's rules, and they have now cleared the star of any wrongdoing, but also fined him for not being "candid".
A statement from the NFL reads, "The forensic analysis could not establish that Favre sent the objectionable photographs to Sterger...
"The review found no evidence to contradict the statements of both Favre and Sterger that they never met in person, nor was there anything to suggest that Sterger engaged in any inappropriate conduct.
"However, Commissioner (Roger) Goodell also determined that Favre was not candid in several respects during the investigation, resulting in a longer review and additional negative public attention for Favre, Sterger, and the NFL... "
Sterger's attorney, Joseph Conway, reacted angrily to the ruling, adding, "It clearly shows that an NFL star player was given preferential treatment and tells all other players that failure to cooperate may cost you some money but will not result in other punishment...
Today's decision is an affront to all females and shows... the NFL remains the good old boys' league."