Disciplinary Panel Discusses Harding

A special panel appointed by the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. gathered Wednesday in Colorado Springs, Colo, to consider disciplinary action against Tonya Harding for her role in one of the most bizarre episodes in American sports history.

Among other things, the panel may decide to take away the national title Harding won in Detroit this year and ban her from the association for life. It also could ask her to return training funds, since some $6,000 of that money was used to finance the attack on Harding’s rival, Nancy Kerrigan.

The panel met for two hours before adjourning for dinner. A decision is expected sometime today.

The hearing comes nearly six months after Kerrigan was whacked above the right knee Jan. 6. The injury knocked Kerrigan out of the competition, clearing the way for Harding’s victory.

Pro Football

The Rams came to contract terms on three-year deals with their two third-round draft choices--safety Keith Lyle of Virginia and running back James Bostic of Auburn.

Bostic, projected as a backup tailback behind Jerome Bettis and Cleveland Gary, gained 1,205 yards last year at Auburn. Lyle, a two-year starter at Virginia, can play free and strong safety.

Two of the Rams’ 10 draft picks are unsigned--first-round pick Wayne Gandy, an offensive tackle from Auburn, and second-round pick Isaac Bruce, a wide receiver from Memphis State.

Former Buffalo cornerback Nate Odomes, recently signed by the Seattle Seahawks, had knee surgery that will sideline him for the entire 1994 season. Odomes never missed a game in seven seasons with the Bills.

Pro Bowl center Mark Stepnoski signed a one-year, $1.2-million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, giving the club 10 returning offensive starters from last season’s Super Bowl champions.

Craig (Ironhead) Heyward was sent home by the Atlanta Falcons and told to stick to his diet after weighing in at 298 pounds.

Kansas City Chief wide receiver Tim Barnett has returned to jail to complete a 10-day sentence for disorderly conduct after withdrawing an appeal of a case that involved a gun threat to his wife.

Hockey

Mike Vernon, the Flames’ No. 1 goaltender for most of his eight seasons in Calgary, was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for defenseman Steve Chiasson.

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected actor Michael Keaton and Connecticut Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. to serve on an advisory board.

College Basketball

John Chaney has been given a contract extension to continue coaching basketball at Temple at least through the 1999 season.

Basketball Coach Pat Kennedy, who met with Seton Hall officials this week and was considered a top candidate to replace P.J. Carlesimo, said he’ll stay at Florida State.

NCAA women’s basketball player of the year Lisa Leslie of USC will play in an all-star game at the Venice Beach courts Sunday at 1 p.m. Other players include Heidi and Heather Burge (Virginia), Cindy Brown (Long Beach State), Nicky McCrimmon (USC), plus Amy Jalawalia and Detra Lockhart (UCLA).

Pro Basketball

Despite dueling lawsuits in federal and state courts, an attorney for the Minnesota Timberwolves remained confident the NBA team will be sold locally and not moved to New Orleans.

Forward Larry Johnson of the Charlotte Hornets has acknowledged he is the father of a Baltimore infant and agreed to pay child support.

Miscellany

UCLA was third behind North Carolina and Stanford in the Sears Directors’ Cup Competition, which recognizes the schools with the best overall sports programs in an academic year.

The L.A. Blades roller hockey team will face the Calgary Rad’z at the Forum tonight at 7:30. The Blades (4-3) have lost two in a row.

Names in the News

Merlene Ottey of Jamaica ran the women’s 100 meters in a 1994 world-best 11.02 seconds and Namibia’s Frankie Fredericks won the men’s 200 in a season’s-best 20.30 at Helsinki, Finland. . . . A knee injury suffered in training last week has put American cyclist Andy Hampsten out of the Tour de France, which starts Saturday. . . . Joe DiMaggio, Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, Mike Piazza and Dominique Wilkins will be honored at the Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular on Tuesday at the Century Plaza Hotel.