Sidney Crosby arrest report retracted by QMI

The QMI Agency has retracted its report that NHL star Sidney Crosby was arrested by Ottawa police on driving-related charges.

QMI issued the retraction late Wednesday morning, a few hours after the report was removed from the Ottawa Sun's website.

"There was no basis for the story and QMI unreservedly retracts the story in its entirety," the agency said. "QMI regrets the error."

Ottawa police had already denied the report, which said the Pittsburgh Penguins captain was arrested late Tuesday in Ottawa while driving a rented Porsche.

Ottawa police staff sergeant Stephen Hodgson told CBC News Network that the report was "completely false."

"[Crosby] was never stopped, never arrested by Ottawa police, so somebody lied. I have no knowledge of him being in Ottawa," Hodgson said.

Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau also tweeted that the police "have had no dealings with Mr. Crosby."

Crosby was believed to be training in Vail, Colo., and the Penguins said he was "not in Canada" on Tuesday.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins have spoken to Sidney Crosby," the team said in a statement Wednesday morning. "He is not in Canada, and was not in Canada yesterday. He is continuing his training in preparation for training camp."

Crosby, 27, led the NHL in scoring last season for the second time and won his second Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player.

The Penguins open their official training camp later this month.