In brief

Second House panel votes for steroid rules

By wire services
Published May 27, 2005

WASHINGTON - Legislation that would set minimum steroid-testing rules and penalties for the four major U.S. professional sports was rubber-stamped Thursday by a House committee.

The Government Reform Committee made no changes before giving its approval to the Clean Sports Act, sponsored by chairman Tom Davis, Rep., Va. It's one of two similar bills on the subject; the Drug Free Sports Act is going through the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The two panels will now consult.

Based on the Olympic model, the Clean Sports Act calls for a two-year ban for a first offense, a lifetime ban for a second, and mandates five tests per athlete each year.

The Drug Free Sports Act, sponsored by Florida Republican Cliff Stearns, calls for the same penalties but requires two tests each year. Stearns' bill would give the secretary of commerce authority over sports' drug-testing policies; Davis' bill gives oversight to the White House drug czar.

More than 1,800 athletes are expected for the Bay Area Youth Track and Field event today through Sunday at USF. Individuals and clubs from the Southeast, Cayman Islands and Bahamas will compete. Open and masters (over age 19) competition will be today. Youths 8-and-under through 18 will compete Saturday and Sunday. The meet is open to the public.

JONES ADDS MEET: Marion Jones will compete in the 100 meters at the Grand Prix Regione Lombardia next week, three days after her European season debut in the Netherlands. The American sprinter has been shunned by many European meet organizers since being linked to the BALCO steroid scandal.

A shaggy-haired guard and the absence of the National Hockey League have helped boost viewership in Canada for the National Basketball Association playoffs. While U.S. ratings for the playoffs are down by as much as 30 percent, Canadian audiences are up 63 percent on cable networks TSN, Rogers Sportsnet, the Score and Toronto1, according to Nielsen Media Research Inc. That includes 10 games featuring the Phoenix Suns and Steve Nash, their point guard and the NBA's most valuable player. Nash, who plays with his neck-length black hair swaying from side to side, is from British Columbia.

Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are partying in Liverpool. David Beckham and Michael Owen are training in Spain. Rio Ferdinand, Paul Robinson, John Terry and Frank Lampard are all giving their battered bodies a break. No, the team from England that plays the United States in an exhibition Saturday in Chicago won't be the one fans are accustomed to seeing. But don't expect a bunch of scrubs either. "I would say anyway you cut it, the team that England brings in here on Saturday is one of the better teams in the world," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. This is the first game between England and the United States since 1994, when England won 2-0 at Wembley to avenge a loss the year before in Foxboro, Mass.

Michelle Kwan came to New York undecided about whether she wanted to try to make her third Olympic team. After spending one night with 14 other Olympians at the Visa Gold Medal Athlete Summit, sharing stories, dreams and memories, she quickly made up her mind. Kwan said she wants to compete at the 2006 Games in Turin. "I said after the 2002 Olympics I was going to play it by ear, go with the flow, and it worked for me," said Kwan. "After spending some time with these athletes and coming here to New York, I said, "This will be a great experience, try it one more time.' " Kwan is coming off one of her most disappointing performances, finishing fourth at the world championships in Moscow in March.

CYCLING: Ivan Basso won the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia, breaking away on the final climb to complete the 120.2-mile route from Varazze to Colle Tenda in 5 hours, 15 minutes, 45 seconds. Paolo Savoldelli retained the overall lead by 58 seconds over Gilberto Simoni. The race ends Sunday in Milan.

Compiled from Times wires.

[Last modified May 27, 2005, 00:40:18]