In brief: Suspended sprinter tries out for Bucs

Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin, facing a track and field suspension of up to eight years for failing a drug test last summer, is trying to launch a career in pro football as a wide receiver with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“If (his speed) can transfer to football, you have a real threat,” Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. “If it can’t, then it won’t work.”

Gatlin, who is participating in the Buccaneers’ rookie minicamp this weekend in Tampa, Fla., said he last played football during his freshman year at Tennessee.

He then concentrated on track, winning the 100 meters at the 2004 Athens Olympics and equaling the world record of Jamaica’s Asafa Powell at 9.77 seconds.

Gatlin faces the suspension following a positive test for testosterone and other steroids at the Kansas Relays last April.

His appeal is pending and he said Friday that he has not given up hope of resuming his career as a sprinter.

“Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Ahmad Carroll was arrested on weapon and drug charges for suspicion of being involved in a disturbance with a weapon in Atlanta, authorities said.

Atlanta police spokesman officer James Polite said Carroll acknowledged to police that he was carrying a 9mm pistol. Police then searched his car and found 11 pink tablets that were believed to be ecstasy.

Carroll, an Atlanta native, was released on a $7,000 bond.

“Kicker Billy Cundiff signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons after playing six games with New Orleans last season.

Tennis

Henin advances

Top-ranked Justine Henin beat fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the final of the clay-court J&S Cup in Warsaw, Poland.

Henin will play unseeded Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine in today’s final. Bondarenko, ranked 40th in the world, upset third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 7-6 (4).

Henin, the 2005 J&S Cup champion, has beaten Jankovic in three sets in all four of their meetings.

“Novak Djokovic defeated second-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain 7-5, 6-1 in Oeiras, Portugal, to reach the men’s final at the Estoril Open, where he will play Richard Gasquet.

In the women’s final, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus will play Greta Arn of Germany.

Gasquet won his semifinal match at the clay-court event when Paul-Henri Mathieu withdrew while trailing 3-1 because of a right hip injury.

The third-seeded Djokovic broke Robredo’s serve twice in the second set and won the final five games.

Miscellany

Americans move on

Paul Stastny scored two goals and helped set up another to give the United States a 3-0 win over Germany in Mytischi, Russia, and a place in the quarterfinals at the hockey world championships.

In other games, Switzerland captured a spot in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Denmark. Also advancing to the quarterfinals was Finland, which got a pair of goals from Jari Viuhkola in a 3-0 win over Italy. Also, Slovakia defeated the Czech Republic 3-2.

“UC Irvine’s Anteaters blended their power game with great defense to beat IPFW 3-1 and win their first men’s volleyball national championship.

The second-seeded Anteaters (29-5) won by scores of 30-20, 24-30, 30-23 and 30-28, extending their school record for wins in a season.

“American Anwar Moore had the fastest 110 hurdles times in the world this year, winning the Modesto (Calif.) Relays in 13.12 seconds.

Moore edged Xiang Liu’s mark of 13.14, set earlier in the day at the Japan Grand Prix in Osaka. Liu holds the world record of 12.88.