Several track athletes tested positive for a steroid that until recently was undetectable and face suspensions that could bar them from the 2004 Athens Olympics, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said Thursday.
USADA chief executive officer Terry Madden called it a widespread "conspiracy" involving chemists, coaches and athletes that was brought to the agency's attention by an anonymous tip.
He said the inquiry has expanded to other U.S. professional sports, but would not give specifics. He refused to give details about the athletes or say how many tested positive for the steroid, known as tetrahydrogestrinone (THG).
"What we have uncovered appears to be intentional doping of the worst sort," Madden said. "This is a far cry from athletes accidentally testing positive as a result of taking contaminated nutritional supplements."
Athletes found to have used steroids would face two-year bans.
HORSES: Breeders' field improves
The Breeders' Cup Classic may turn into a pretty fair race after all. The $4-million Classic will feature Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide taking on eight to 13 rivals on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita. A full field of 14 was pre-entered, including Travers winner Ten Most Wanted and older horses Congaree, Medaglia d'Oro, Perfect Drift and last year's surprise winner, Volponi. Medaglia d'Oro, runner-up last year, was the early 4-1 favorite, with Funny Cide a co-sixth choice at 12-1. Azeri, reigning horse of the year, was cross-entered in the Classic and the $2-million BC Distaff, but trainer Laura de Seroux said there were no plans for the 5-year-old mare to run in the Classic against the males.
TENNIS: A-Rod's streak ends at 20
Andy Roddick's 20-match win streak ended with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 loss to unseeded Nicolas Massu in the third round of the Madrid Masters. Roddick, the U.S. Open champion, let the first set slip away after leading 5-2, then had his powerful serve broken twice in the second set. Tampa's Mardy Fish also lost in straight sets to Roger Federer.
QUALFIERS: Saddlebrook's Jennifer Capriati (singles) and Martina Navratilova (doubles) qualified for the season-ending WTA Tour Championships next month in Los Angeles.
PENALTIES: The WTA Tour is adopting harsher penalties for match fixing, though it said there is no sign of players gambling or rigging outcomes. Starting next year, a player caught fixing a match could be fined $100,000 and suspended.
SOCCER: FIFA pledges millions
FIFA approved $10-million worth of projects to support the sport in 26 countries. FIFA said it would finance the construction of new headquarters and a technical center for the national associations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq's federation is getting $700,000 to help rebuild the team, whose headquarters were destroyed during the fighting that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime.
ET CETERA
COLLEGES: The Atlantic Sun voted to add East Tennessee State for the 2005-06 basketball season. The Buccaneers are members of the Southern Conference. ... Iowa State forward Jackson Vroman, arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, was suspended from the team for the second time in five months. Vroman, a 6-foot-10 senior who led the team in rebounding (9.4), was suspended in May after being charged with possession of marijuana. ... Armstrong Atlantic State defeated host Saint Leo 3-0 in volleyball.
NBA: Rockets forward Eddie Griffin was suspended indefinitely after he failed to show for practice before an 88-72 preseason win against Sacramento. Tracy McGrady scored 27 and Orlando snapped a four-game preseason losing streak with a 90-86 victory over the Jazz in St. Louis. Stephen Jackson scored 16 as the host Hawks beat the Heat 92-78. Wizards guard Jerry Stackhouse will have knee surgery next week and likely miss the start of the regular season Oct. 29.
OBITUARY: Laszlo Papp, the first boxer to win three Olympic golds, died in Budapest, Hungary. He was 77. Papp won middleweight gold in 1948 and light middleweight golds in 1952 and '56.
