Landis 'saddened' to lose final appeal to reclaim 2006 Tour title

Associated Press

Floyd Landis lost his final chance to retain his 2006 Tour de France title Monday, the last step of a long, multimillion-dollar process that poked holes in the anti-doping establishment but ultimately left the cyclist as just another convicted cheater.

A three-person panel at the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a previous panel's decision, ruling his positive doping test during the Tour two years ago was, indeed, valid. Landis also must pay $100,000 toward the legal fees of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

"I am saddened by today's decision," Landis said in a statement. "I am looking into my legal options and deciding on the best way to proceed."

In its 58-page decision, the CAS panel said the lab that analyzed Landis' positive test results used some "less than ideal laboratory practices, but not lies, fraud, forgery or cover-ups," the way the Landis camp had alleged.

Landis 'saddened' to lose final appeal to reclaim 2006 Tour title....

U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS

By Scott Ostler

Michael Phelps, swimming's rock star, says, "I don't consider myself a rock star."

Which is a very rock-starish thing to say, except that Phelps backs it up. In the same news conference held here before the start of the U.S. Olympic swim trials, Phelps was asked what swimmers he'll be watching. He mentioned his Club Wolverine teammate Erik Vendt, because "He is my roommate here."

Phelps has a roommate?

He has major sponsorship deals with six corporations. If he wanted to, he could buy Omaha and fix it up. He is a college grad, 22, a professional swimmer, the greatest swimmer in the world, on a quest to become one of the greatest athletes in history.

And yet he's all, "Dude, do you mind if we watch SpongeBob? It helps me relax."

U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS....

Gay breaks U.S. 100-meter record

Eugene, OR (Sports Network) - Sprinter Tyson Gay set a new American record in the 100-meters on Saturday, clocking in at 9.77 seconds in the first quarterfinal heat at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials.

The previous record had stood since 1999, when Maurice Greene ran a 9.79. Usain Bolt of Jamaica set the world record of 9.72 seconds on May 31.

"I eased up a little bit, but I'm not worried about the record," Gay said. "I thank God that I was able to run a (personal record), but that's what I want to do in the finals."

Gay breaks U.S. 100-meter record....

Jamaica's top crop might be sprinters

By MICHELLE KAUFMAN, Miami Herald

The small Caribbean country produces many elite sprinters, and it's no accident because of an excellent feeder program.

Asafa Powell, until recently the World's Fastest Man, isn't even the fastest man on his island now. That's what happens when you're a Jamaican sprinter: No matter how fast you are, there's some kid running uphill in the Blue Mountains, training on the spectacular beaches, hungry to replace you as the next national hero.

Usain Bolt, a 21-year-old who stands 6-5, last month ran 100 meters in 9.72 seconds, breaking Powell's world record of 9.74 set in September 2007. Powell and Bolt hold seven of the 10 fastest recognized times for the 100 meters. This weekend, they go head-to-head for the first time at that distance at the Jamaican Olympic Track and Field Trials in Kingston. It promises to be a sizzling showdown, one that has drawn media credential requests from England, the United States, Japan, Italy, France and all over the Caribbean.

Jamaica's top crop might be sprinters....

Marshevet Hooker aims to build on fast 100

By HOWARD FENDRICH

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Allyson Felix owns Olympic and world championship medals, and is seen by many as a possible star of the Beijing Games.

Lauryn Williams has her share of medals, too.

Torri Edwards won a world title.

And Marshevet Hooker, whose primary track accomplishments so far came in college, managed to put that entire trio on notice: She appears to be peaking at the top-three-in-one-race U.S. Olympic track trials.

Hooker will have everyone's attention when the sprinters line up for the 100-meter semifinals and, she hopes, final Saturday.

That's because she ran a wind-aided 10.76 seconds to win her 100-meter quarterfinal Friday, tying her with former world record-holder Ashford as the fifth-fastest woman in all conditions.

"I heard the time first," said Hooker, an NCAA champion at Texas. "I was like, 'Wow!'"

Marshevet Hooker aims to build on fast 100....

Venus Williams joins sister in 4th round

By STEVEN WINE – 3 hours ago

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — One swing from completing her week's work, Venus Williams toed the baseline, dribbled the ball, gave it a toss and delivered yet another thunderclap serve at sun-kissed Wimbledon.

The ace bounced off the Court 1 backstop as Williams trotted to the net to bid another foe farewell.

The scoreboard said 127 mph, the fastest women's serve ever recorded at Wimbledon. The scoreboard also had Williams winning 6-1, 7-5 Saturday over qualifier Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

It was an upset-filled first week at Wimbledon and a rough one for American tennis, but the nonconformist Williams sisters ignored both trends. Four-time champion Venus and two-time champion Serena won three matches each without dropping a set.

Venus Williams joins sister in 4th round....

Federer cruises into fourth round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - Five-time champion Roger Federer won his third-round match in straight sets at Wimbledon on Friday.

After rain forced play to be delayed for 90 minutes, the top-seeded Federer rolled over France's Marc Gicquel, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. The Swiss Federer, looking to capture his sixth consecutive title here, extended his grass-court winning streak to 62 matches.

The top-seeded/world No. 1 Federer is also now riding a 37-match winning streak at Wimbledon. Bjorn Borg holds the record with 41 straight victories.

Federer cruises into fourth round at Wimbledon....

Fast Field in 100 Stands in Way of Felix’s Pursuit of 4 Gold Medals

By LYNN ZINSER

EUGENE, Ore. — When Allyson Felix folds her long legs into the starting blocks in the first round of the 100 meters at the United States Olympic track and field trials Friday, she will feel a little more at home than usual.

Felix, a two-time world champion in the 200 meters, has been working out with the same model starting block used here at Oregon’s Hayward Field. “I’ve been working on the start, been working on executing the race,” Felix said. “I know I can do it. I’m just trying to put the right race together in the final. Hopefully, it will work out for me.”

At 22, Felix is trying to become her sport’s dominant multi-event athlete. By the time the team is chosen after eight days of competition, Felix hopes to have qualified for the 100, the 200 and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Fast Field in 100 Stands in Way of Felix’s Pursuit of 4 Gold Medals....

Sharapova shocked in second round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - The biggest upset to this point at Wimbledon 2008 came on Thursday, when little-known Russian Alla Kudryavtseva stunned former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova in straight sets in the second round at the All England Club.

Meanwhile, second-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic and reigning champion and four- time winner Venus Williams posted victories, while former champ Lindsay Davenport pulled out here on Day 4.

The 154th-ranked Kudryavtseva, playing in only her third career Wimbledon match, sent her third-seeded fellow Russian Sharapova packing in 6-2, 6-4 fashion on Court 1.

Sharapova shocked in second round at Wimbledon....

Tiger Woods has surgery to repair torn ligament in left knee

By Thomas Bonk, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Less than a week after revealing he had torn a ligament in his left knee, Tiger Woods had surgery Tuesday. His doctors said the procedure to repair the anterior cruciate ligament went well.

Thomas Rosenberg and Vernon Cooley, the doctors who repaired ligament damage in Woods' same knee in April in Park City, Utah, said they expect Woods to fully recover from his latest surgery on the knee, his third in the last five years.

Tiger Woods has surgery to repair torn ligament in left knee....

Paralympic torch relay is cut short

BEIJING, China (AP) -- Chinese organizers have canceled the international portion of the Beijing Paralympic torch relay and shortened domestic legs.

Organizers announced the changes on Wednesday, saying the government preferred to focus on relief work for the millions of displaced people following the deadly May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province.

The first international Paralympic torch relay was to stop in London, Vancouver and Whistler in Canada, and Sochi, Russia -- venues for the next three Summer and Winter Olympics.

The Paralympic Games take place from September 6-17.

Paralympic torch relay is cut short....

Gatlin cannot run internationally, officials say

By Gene Cherry

EUGENE, Oregon (Reuters) - While U.S. sports officials must abide by an American court ruling allowing Justin Gatlin to race at the U.S. Olympic trials, world bodies made it clear the banned 100 meters Olympic champion is not eligible to participate in either the Games or other international events.

"He will not be allowed to run in any international competition during the period of his suspension," International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) spokesman Nick Davies told Reuters on Tuesday.

Davies's comments in an e-mail from IAAF headquarters in Monaco echoed a similar statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Gatlin cannot run internationally, officials say....

Now, the waiting is hardest part for some women gymnasts

By Alisha Ricardi

PHILADELPHIA -- Just before the second and final day of the women's U.S. Olympic trials began Sunday, the men's Beijing squad was announced. Those athletes who wrapped up competition Saturday now know their fates and can begin training for the Games.


The women (minus Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, who were named to the team Sunday after finishing first and second, respectively, in the weighted results of the trials and last month's nationals) won't know where they stand until the end of the final selection camp July 16-20, about two weeks before the Olympics begin.

But that doesn't mean the Olympic team isn't already taking shape.


Marta Karoyli, wife of gymnastics coaching legend Bela, is the team coordinator (read: mastermind) of the U.S. women's Olympic squad. Her opinion carries much weight to the sport in this country, and what she thinks about the young women who competed in these trials speaks volumes about who will likely make the team.

Now, the waiting is hardest part for some women gymnasts....