Settlement Reported Between UCLA, Shotputter

Three-time NCAA shotput champion Brent Noon of Georgia reached a settlement with UCLA in a $10-million defamation suit, the school confirmed Tuesday.

Noon’s father, Jim Noon, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the newspaper on Monday that the settlement reached the “high six figures.” With legal fees, the suit will cost UCLA morethan $1 million, the report said.

The suit, filed in March of 1993, alleged that assistant Bruin coach Art Venegas spread rumors for several years that Noon used anabolic steroids. The suit also alleged that officials of USA Track & Field, the sport’s governing body, spread similar rumors and illegally banned Noon for several weeks in 1992 because he did not submit to a random drug test.

Officials at USA Track said Monday night that they will not settle with Noon. Jury selection in USA Track’s portion of the suit is scheduled to begin Friday in San Diego.

Venegas was unavailable for comment, the newspaper said.

The paper said Noon has passed more than 20 drug tests performed by USA Track, the NCAA and the University of Georgia over the past two years.

“The money was never an issue with us,” Jim Noon said. “If I had my way, I’d still take UCLA to court.”