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In brief

Tainted letters spur warning at America's Cup

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Life continued as normal at the America's Cup after a public warning from anti-terror police after letters containing cyanide crystals and white powder were seized by postal workers.

The threatening letters, addressed to the U.S. Embassy and the British and Australian High Commissions in the capital of Wellington, referred to "actions" that could occur if Iraq were attacked. The letters mentioned the America's Cup races. Police said a small quantity of cyanide was found in one of the letters.

The powder in the three letters was tested for anthrax, but none was found, assistant commissioner Jon White said.

It was a scheduled day off at the America's Cup, which has been stalled for more than a week by uncooperative weather. Alinghi of Switzerland has a 3-0 lead over Team New Zealand in the best-of-nine series, scheduled to resume today.

OLYMPICS: Ward's travel costly

U.S. Olympic Committee chief executive Lloyd Ward and his wife billed $115,664 in travel costs to the USOC last year, the Gazette of Colorado Springs reported. The expenses included flights to see Evander Holyfield fight in Atlantic City, N.J., and to Florida, where the couple has a home, according to a USOC report obtained by the newspaper. Ward defended the expenses, saying he met with sponsors and donors at the Holyfield-Chris Byrd bout on Dec. 14.

GOLF: Nicklaus will join sons

Jack Nicklaus is ready for a golfing first -- the Golden Bear will play in a tournament with his four sons. Nicklaus will play in the BMW Charity Pro-Am at the Cliffs, a Nationwide Tour event May 1-4 in Greenville, S.C. It will be the first time Nicklaus has played in the same tournament with Jack II, Steve, Gary and Michael.

TENNIS: NBC keeps Wimbledon

Viewers can have breakfast at Wimbledon with NBC for at least four more years. The network extended its deal with the All England Club through 2006 at about the same $13-million annual fee as the old three-year pact. This will be the 35th consecutive year NBC has televised the tournament, which is scheduled for June 23-July 6.

CHAMP RETURNS: No. 9 Jelena Dokic is the ninth top 25 player to commit to play in the March 31-April 6 Sarasota Clay Court Classic, which she won last year.

ET CETERA

HORSES: Medaglia d'Oro will not run in Saturday's $1-million Santa Anita Handicap because trainer Bobby Frankel is unhappy with the horse's 124-pound weight assignment. ... Skywalker, the winner of the 1986 Breeders' Cup Classic, died of a heart attack in Paris, Ky, at 21.

BOXING: NBA cruiserweight champion Michael Rush will fight Derrick Whitley in the featured bout on Friday night at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa. Ali Tareh of St. Petersburg will fight on the undercard.

FIGURE SKATING: Ice dancers Loren Galler-Rabinowitz and David Mitchell of the United States won their qualifying group at the Junior World Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

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