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Senator rejects doping hearing

SAN FRANCISCO - Sen. John McCain rebuffed track star Marion Jones' request to hold a public hearing into allegations she violated steroid rules.

In a letter to Jones' attorney, the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee said he believes the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency process was the best forum for her to pursue her case because his committee isn't a court of law or arbitration panel.

"Her request for a committee hearing ignores USADA's jurisdiction over all U.S. Olympic athlete doping cases and the adjudication process adhered to by USADA to resolve such cases," McCain wrote in the letter, released Friday.

Jones' legal team sent their request to McCain on Wednesday, when the sprinter called for a public hearing she hopes will clear her name and allow her to compete in this summer's Olympics.

MORE OLYMPICS: Charles Smith, a national tae kwon do champion, filed a $10-million racial discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Olympic Committee for preventing him from competing in Athens and earning endorsements. Smith said banning him from the training center in Colorado Springs, Colo., hindered him. He was banned until March because of an argument with the USOC director of security in November and later using another athlete's access card to gain entry. Smith, who is black, said two white athletes involved in the incidents were not reprimanded.

Tampa's James Blake pulled out of Wimbledon. He fell and slammed into a net post while chasing a drop shot during a practice session in Rome in May. Rafael Nadal (broken left foot) and Nicolas Escude (right shoulder tendinitis) also pulled out.

NOTTINGHAM OPEN: Top-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan reached his first grass final with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Robin Soderling in England. Today he faces Thomas Johansson, who beat Taylor Dent 7-6 (7-4), 6-1. Dent beat Victor Hanescu 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (9-7) in a quarterfinal suspended for darkness Thursday with the third set 2-2.

EASTBOURNE: Daniela Hantuchova beat top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the final in England. Hantuchova, unseeded, broke for the match with a forehand pass to make her first final since October 2002. She meets second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat fourth-seeded Vera Zvonareva 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1, today.

ORDINA OPEN: Klara Koukalova won her first semifinal on grass after Anabel Medina Garrigues retired with a stomach ailment in Den Bosch, Netherlands. The other semifinal between Mary Pierce and Lina Krasnoroutskaya was suspended for rain with the first set 2-2.

COETZER RETIRES: Amanda Coetzer, ranked as high as No. 3 in 1997, retired. In 16 years, the South African won nine singles and nine doubles titles. In 1997, she made the semifinals of the Australian and French Open, beating Steffi Graf both times.

Cornerback Eric Kelly was released by the Vikings after failing to report for the final week of offseason workouts and asking for his release. Kelly, who appeared in every game last season, was expected to be the Vikings' fourth cornerback.

RAMS: Defensive tackle Bernard Holsey signed a one-year deal. He started every game for the Redskins last season, recording 41 tackles and 21/2 sacks.

ARENA LEAGUE: Orlando receiver/linebacker Cory Fleming was named Ironman of the Year in voting by coaches, players, fans and writers. He was second in the league in receptions (131) and fourth in receiving yards (1,620) and touchdowns (33). He also had 18 tackles, one sack, one interception and four pass breakups. Storm receiver/defensive back T.T. Toliver was among 10 others who received votes.

Italy, without star Francesco Totti, tied Sweden 1-1 at the European Championships in Porto, Portugal. Totti was suspended for three games for spitting in the face of Denmark's Christian Poulsen on Monday.

Antonio Cassano, who started in place of Totti, made it 1-0 in the 37th minute with a glancing header. Zlatan Ibrahimovic tied it in the 85th, taking a bouncing ball in the penalty area and flicking it in with his right heel.

Earlier, Jesper Groenkjaer came off the bench to seal Denmark's 2-0 victory over Bulgaria with a goal in injury time of the second half in Braga, Portugal. Jon Dahl Tomasson scored into an empty net from close range a minute before halftime, and Bulgaria hardly threatened.

Italy, two points behind Denmark and Sweden, must beat Bulgaria in its final first-round game Monday to have a chance to reach the quarterfinals. The top two advance.

A Paris court will rule next week if the publisher of a new book filled with doping allegations against Lance Armstrong must include his denial. In L.A. Confidential: The Secrets of Lance Armstrong, Emma O'Reilly, Armstrong's former assistant, said he once asked her to dispose of used syringes and give him makeup to conceal needle marks on his arms.

TOUR DE SUISSE: Georg Totschnig won the seventh stage in Malbun, Liechtenstein, and Jan Ullrich lost the overall lead with two days left. Fabian Jeker finished the stage second to take the overall lead by eight seconds over Totschnig and 39 over Ullrich, who is sixth.

BOXING: Nevada boxing officials believe Joe Mesi sustained a career-threatening head injury and accused the suspended heavyweight of making false statements about his medical records. Mesi was suspended because of the three knockdowns he sustained against Vassiliy Jirov in March, a common practice. But those suspensions usually are lifted within 30-60 days. Mesi, who did not comment, previously has said he sustained only a concussion. The commission said it is aware Mesi has had five MRI scans and believes some show bleeding on the brain.

FIGURE SKATING: The International Skating Union will allow women to wear tights or trousers. Previously, they could wear skirts or dresses. Ice dancers still must wear skirts or dresses. Changes likely will be slow because most already have their costumes set for the season.