Sports

Briefs

U.S. Tennis Association helps keep big tournament in U.S.

By wire services
Published October 25, 2005

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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - The U.S. Tennis Association invested in the Pacific Life Open, helping keep the high-profile event from moving to China in 2007.

It will buy out management firm IMG's 50 percent interest in the tennis event that in March had a women's purse of $2.1-million and men's purse of $2.9-million. IMG had wanted to sell to a Chinese group. Raymond Moore and Charlie Pasarell of marketing firm PM Sports own the other 50 percent.

The USTA's group includes Tennis magazine owners George Mackin and Bob Miller .

TOURNAMENTS: Third-seeded Max Mirnyi and sixth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen lost first-round matches to Kenneth Carlsen and Robin Vik , respectively, in the St. Petersburg Open in Russia. Carlsen gave up one point on his final two service games to win 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Vik broke in the first game of the first set and rallied from down 3-1 in the second to win 6-4, 6-4. ... Mario Ancic beat Tampa resident James Blake 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) in the first round of the Grand Prix of Lyon Open in France. 2004 French Open champ Gaston Gaudio beat Arnaud Clement 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. NADAL OUT: A day after rallying from two sets down to win the Madrid Masters, French Open champion Rafael Nadal pulled out of the Swiss Indoors in Basel because of knee problems.

DOPING

Italy stands firm on law

Francesco Storace , Italy's health minister, ruled out easing the country's strict anti-doping laws during February's Olympics in Turin. He said athletes who risk taking banned substances should "stay at home." Athletes can face criminal sanctions for doping under Italian law, raising the possibility of police raids in the Olympic village. Under International Olympic Committee rules, athletes can be disqualified but should not face criminal penalties, and it has lobbied legislators to suspend the law during the Games.

CYCLING: Dario Frigo , Alberto Elli and Giuseppe Di Grande received six-month suspended sentences in San Remo, Italy, for doping during the 2001 Giro d'Italia. Physical therapist Primo Pregnolato received an eight-month sentence.

WINTER SPORTS

Gold medalist retires

Jimmy Shea , who won the gold medal in skeleton at the 2002 Games, retired after failing to make the four-man U.S. team for the upcoming World Cup season. Shea, 37, his father and his grandfather comprised the first family with three generations of Winter Olympians. Nine months after the Games, he had surgery to restore the blood flow in his left leg. He sat out 2002-03 and last season and finished eighth overall in 2003-04.

SPEED SKATING: In a matchup of likely Olympians, Chad Hedrick edged Shani Davis in a 10,000-meter race at a U.S. long-track qualifier in West Allis, Wis. Hedrick finished in 13:22.93, 1.01 faster than the track record of the Netherlands' Gianni Romme set in 2000 and 8.28 faster than Davis. Maria Lamb won the 5,000 in 7:38.05, .05 ahead of Kristine Holzer in the final races of the four-day event to determine the U.S. team for international competition.

ET CETERA

HORSES: With strong winds and heavy rain forecast, about two dozen Breeders' Cup horses squeezed in a workout at Belmont Park. Travers winner Flower Alley went 5 furlongs in 58.8 and Woodward winner Saint Liam 1:01.6 at nearby Aqueduct in a final tuneup for Saturday's Classic. Shakespeare ran 5 furlongs in 1:03.8 in preparation for the Turf.

SOCCER: Freddy Adu returned to practice for MLS's D.C. United. Coach Peter Nowak suspended him last week for saying a lack of playing time hurt his chances of making the U.S. World Cup team and made him think about leaving the team. ... The U.S. men will play an exhibition at Scotland on Nov.12. All potential World Cup players will be available because the top European leagues are idle.

[Last modified October 25, 2005, 03:00:29]

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