CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Panthers finally made a decision on Greg Hardy: the Pro Bowl defensive end won't play for Carolina until his domestic violence case is resolved.

The team removed Hardy from its active roster Wednesday, ending three weeks of indecision regarding his playing status. He played Week 1 and sat out Week 2.

The Panthers placed Hardy on the exempt-commissioner's permission list just hours after the Vikings took a similar disciplinary approach with Adrian Peterson. The Minnesota running back is addressing child abuse charges in Texas.

Hardy was convicted July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats after the victim said the 6-foot-4, 275-pound player threw her in the bathtub and onto a sofa covered with guns before threatening to kill her. Hardy is appealing the ruling, and a jury trial is set for Nov. 17.

NEW YORK — The NFL will have HGH testing, perhaps as early as the end of this month.And of more immediate impact — this weekend — the new performance-enhancing drug policy the league and players' union agreed to Wednesday will allow the Broncos' Wes Welker and two other suspended players to return to the field.Welker, Dallas Cowboys defensive back Orlando Scandrick and St. Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey had been suspended for four games. All can return Sunday under the new rules. Instead, they will be referred to the substance abuse program.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels clinched the AL West title Wednesday night, getting seven dominant innings of one-hit ball from C.J. Wilson in a 5-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.C.J. Cron hit a three-run homer for the major league-leading Angels (95-57), who wrapped up their first division crown since 2009 when Oakland lost to Texas about an hour after Los Angeles' game ended.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Jameis Winston will be a spectator in the first half of Florida State's showdown against Clemson on Saturday after the quarterback made “offensive and vulgar” comments about women — the latest embarrassment in a growing list of poor decisions off the field.Florida State interim President Dr. Garnett S. Stokes and athletic director Stan Wilcox announced that Winston also will undergo internal discipline.