Williams to appeal drug suspension
Ricky Williams will meet with NFL officials today seeking to overturn a drug suspension that could cost him the entire 2006 season.
League officials will not confirm drug suspensions under league policy that maintains confidentiality for positive tests. But Williams’ agent, Leigh Steinberg, said last week that the hearing will take place at the NFL offices in New York.
If the positive test is upheld, it would be Williams’ fourth violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, meaning at least a one-year suspension.
•The Canadian Football League’s board of governors voted Sunday to suspend the Ottawa Renegades for the season and work to find a new owner for the financially troubled franchise in time for a relaunch next year.
College Sports
Duke scandal continues
Time-stamped photographs will show an exotic dancer was already injured and “very impaired” when she arrived at a party where she claims she was raped by members of Duke University’s men’s lacrosse team, an attorney for one of the players said.
“All of these statements you’ve heard … about this brutal assault, rape, kidnapping and robbery which occurred, I believe that the public will soon be able to learn the truth, and that these allegations are totally false and without merit,” said Durham attorney Bill Thomas.
Marathon
Melese wins in Paris
Gashaw Melese of Ethiopia won the Paris Marathon, beating two Kenyans by less than a minute. Melese covered the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 3 seconds in the 30th edition of the race.
Irina Timofeyeva of Russia was the women’s champion in a race that started on the Champs-Elysees and had more than 30,000 runners.
•Sammy Korir of Kenya overcame a late challenge to win the Rotterdam (Netherlands) Marathon in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 38 seconds.
Miscellany
Inter players attacked
A group of Inter Milan fans, angered by the team’s unexpected elimination from the Champions League, attacked the players when they returned from an Italian league victory.
Fans at Malpensa airport shouted insults as the players arrived overnight, police said. In a parking lot outside the terminal, some masked fans turned violent, leaving midfielder Cristiano Zanetti with a bruise on his head.
•The United States, Argentina and Russia joined Australia in reaching the Davis Cup semifinals while defending champion Croatia was eliminated.
Andy Roddick sent the Americans into the next round by beating Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
•Greg Oden had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead the West to a 118-102 victory in the Roundball Classic high school all-star game in Chicago.
•American Ryan Lochte set a world record in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 1 minute, 49.05 seconds at the FINA Short Course World Championships in Shanghai, China.
•Scotland scored two points in the ninth end to take the lead and held on through a tense 10th to beat Canada 7-4 and win the world curling championship in Lowell, Mass.