A Suspension for Schumacher

Michael Schumacher’s dominance of the Formula One season was sidetracked Tuesday, and the two-week suspension he received for breaking the circuit’s rules could cost him the points championship.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) officials barred the German driver from the next two Grand Prix races, giving Damon Hill a chance to win the title Schumacher appeared to have locked up.

Schumacher, who has won six of eight races this season with seconds in the other two, had no comment, but was on the verge of tears when he left FIA headquarters.

Schumacher was penalized for passing Hill on a warm-up lap and temporarily ignoring a black flag during the British Grand Prix.

The driver’s Benetton-Ford team called the punishment “harsh” but declined further comment, saying it was still deciding whether to appeal.

Jurisprudence

A jury ruled that former Detroit Lions player Reggie Rogers must pay $375,000 to the family of one of three teen-agers killed when he ran a stopsign while drunk and struck their vehicle.

The defensive end was convicted of negligent homicide in the 1988 crash in Pontiac, Mich., and served 12 1/2 months of a 16- to 24-month prison sentence. Rogers broke his neck in the crash.

William Hardy, the first player in English rugby to be prosecuted for a death on the field, was found not guilty of manslaughter.

Harness driver Danny Ricco Jr., 27, pleaded guilty to sports bribery charges, saying he agreed to lose a race in exchange for bribes at Monticello Raceway in White Plains, N.Y.

Charles Smith, the former Boston Celtics guard convicted in the hit-and-run deaths of two college students, was released after more than two years in prison. Smith, 26, returned to Washington, his hometown. His lawyer, Dennis Kelly, said Smith would not grant interviews.

Tennis

Guy Forget of France upset sixth-seeded Andrei Chesnokov of Russia, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, in the $300,000 Hilversum Dutch Open at Hilversum, Netherlands.

Angela Lettiere, a qualifier playing in her first major tournament on the tour, upset No. 6-seeded Katerina Maleeva, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3), in the first round of the $400,000 U.S. Women’s Hardcourt Championships at Stratton Mountain, Vt.

Miscellany

U.S. Naval Academy officials said they’ve decided to eliminate rules allowing athletes to miss inspections and marching drills. Such rules gave the wrong impression that the athletes were pampered, said Capt. John B. Padgett III, commandant of midshipmen. . . . Paul Tapp, a former basketball player at California Lutheran, was listed in serious condition at Simi Valley Hospital and Health Care Center after an automobile accident Sunday night. Tapp, sustained head trauma, a bruised left lung and a possible broken left hand after his car was hit by another vehicle, according to Tapp’s father, William, who said his son is expected to recover fully.