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SEC expected to get first black AD

ATHENS, Ga. - In a move that will make Southeastern Conference history and may pacify Vince Dooley loyalists, Georgia president Michael Adams appeared poised to name Dooley's top assistant, Damon Evans, as athletic director today.

As other finalists for the job bowed out Thursday, a smiling Evans was accepting handshakes Thursday night as he watched the Georgia basketball team beat South Alabama.

But Evans, 34, who would be the first black athletic director in the SEC, would not confirm reports he will succeed the popular Dooley. "I'll let you write that, if that's what you believe," he said.

Tom Jackson, university executive vice president for external affairs, confirmed a news conference has been scheduled for today.

Cross-country skiers Johann Muehlegg and Olga Danilova have been stripped of all medals from the 2002 Salt Lake City Games in an arbitration ruling that expands the impact of failed drug tests. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it wiped out their results from all races, not just the ones in which they were found with banned drugs in their systems. It marked the first time Olympic athletes lost medals from races in which they had passed doping exams. Both Muehlegg and Danilova tested positive for darbepoetin, which boosts endurance by helping the manufacture of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Muehlegg, a German-born skier who raced for Spain, won the 10-kilometer combined pursuit and the 30K freestyle events, then tested positive in winning the 50K classical race. At the time, he was ordered only to hand back the 50K medal. Danilova, from Russia, originally was disqualified only from the 30K classical race in which she finished eighth. She now loses gold in the 5K pursuit and silver from the 10K race.

TENNIS: Top-ranked Andy Roddick will play in the Olympic tournament Aug. 15-22 even though it ends just eight days before the start of the U.S. Open, where Roddick will defend his first major title. He is eligible for the Summer Games because he plays in Davis Cup competition.

Chris Downes shot 5-under-par 67 for a one-shot lead over Peter Lonard after the opening round of the Australian Open, some of which was played in heavy rain. Only 30 players in the field of 123 broke par as conditions at Rye worsened throughout the day. Stuart Appleby began with four birdies but ended up at 69 along with five others, including U.S. rookie pro Ricky Barnes. Defending champion Robert Allenby finished with par 72.

SENIORS EVENT: Gunnar Bennett of St. Petersburg tied for second, one shot behind winner Jack Richey of Winter Park, in the Society of Seniors Ralph Bogart Winter Invitational at the Club at TwinEagles in Naples. Bennett shot 1-under 143 to tie with Bob Ferrel of Boynton Beach. It was the season's last for the society, whose 600-plus members are 55 and older with handicaps of three or better.

MOTORSPORTS: Former Formula One and CART driver Alex Zanardi will drive full time with the BMW Italian team in the 2004 European touring car series. Zanardi lost both legs in a CART crash in Germany two years ago.

LACROSSE: The 10-team National Lacrosse League and its players union agreed to extend their labor contract through the 2003-04 season, averting a threatened cancellation of the season.