Marion Jones asks for commuted sentence

Disgraced Olympic track star Marion Jones has asked President Bush to commute her six-month prison sentence for lying to federal agents about a check-fraud scam and using performance-enhancing drugs.

The Justice Department confirmed Monday that Jones is among hundreds of convicted felons who have applied for presidential pardons or sentence commutations, but would provide no further details. A commutation reduces or eliminates a person’s sentence.

It’s unclear when Jones, who won three gold and two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, made the request. She entered prison March 7 in Fort Worth, Texas.

After frequently denying that she ever used performance-enhancing drugs, Jones admitted last October she had lied to federal investigators in November 2003.

Tennis

Two players suspended

Doubles specialists Frantisek Cermak and Michal Mertinak were suspended by the ATP for betting on tennis matches.

Neither player wagered on his own matches, and an independent hearing officer found no evidence of any intent to affect the outcome of matches bet upon.

Cermak, a Czech ranked 34th in doubles with Rogier Wassen, was suspended for 10 weeks beginning Monday and fined $15,000. Mertinak, a Slovak ranked 37th in doubles, was suspended for two weeks and fined $3,000.

•Serena Williams said she plans to keep playing through a left knee injury despite advice from a doctor and her father that she rest with less than three weeks before the Beijing Olympics.

She figures her injured knee “will be old news” by the time the Olympic tennis competition begins Aug. 10.

•Two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce withdrew from France’s Olympic tennis team because of a knee injury and was replaced by Pauline Parmentier.

The 33-year-old Pierce was a surprise selection over Amelie Mauresmo in singles. Mauresmo was initially selected as Pierce’s replacement in Beijing, but the International Tennis Federation said that she would not participate.

Miscellany

Celtics sign backups

Eddie House, who made a key 3-pointer while pouring in 11 points in 25 minutes for the NBA champion Celtics in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, agreed to terms with Boston. Tony Allen, another backup guard, also re-upped with the team.

The Celtics lost sixth man James Posey to free agency last week, but Monday’s deals give the team a chance to return most of its key players when it goes for an 18th title next season. All five starters are under contract, and only injured Scot Pollard and aging veterans P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell are left on the market.

•Forward Joffrey Lupul and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to a four-year contract extension, keeping him with the Eastern Conference finalists through the 2012-2013 season.

Lupul had 20 goals and 46 points in 56 regular season games for the Flyers last season.

•Robinho was dropped from the Brazilian Olympic team after Real Madrid said a medical examination discovered the striker has a groin injury.