Special Inquiry Panel Will Question IOC’s Coles

Embattled Australian International Olympic Committee member Phil Coles will appear before a special inquiry panel Thursday in Lausanne, Switzerland, to provide “personal explanations” for conduct that could lead to his expulsion.

The three-member panel advised the IOC executive board Monday that it had drafted a list of questions for Coles to answer before it makes its final recommendation in mid-June.

Coles has already received a severe warning from the IOC for accepting lavish travel and other benefits from Salt Lake City bidders, and is under investigation for further allegations of abusing his Olympic positions.

Meanwhile, the IOC sets out this week on a path of reform that could reshape the 105-year-old organization.

A special task force, whose members include Henry Kissinger and Peter Ueberroth, meets for the first time today to begin rebuilding the IOC after its worst crisis.

IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch dismissed the notion of early retirement and insisted he will complete the remaining two years of his term.

Auto Racing

Chief mechanic Steve Fried, who was run over on pit row during the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, was awake and responding to those around him. He remained in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Energizer team spokesman Greg Hoover said doctors told the mechanic’s colleagues not to expect a change in his condition for at least two to three more days.

In an effort to prevent such injuries again, crews for the Energizer Motorsports team will wear helmets at the next Indy Racing League event--at Texas Motor Speedway on June 12.

Kenny Brack, who won his first Indy 500 on Sunday, received a check for $1,465,190 from a record purse of $9,047,150, the biggest prize package in auto racing history.

The former record was $8,722,150 from last year’s race.

The prizes were distributed at the Victory Celebration, where Robby McGehee was honored as rookie of the year and won $247,750 for his fifth-place finish.

Jeff Ward, who finished second to Brack, earned $583,150, and Billy Boat, Brack’s teammate, took home $435,200 for third. Robby Gordon, who lost the lead when he ran out of fuel with just over one lap to go, finished fourth and earned $253,270.

Brian Simo of Carlsbad regained the lead shortly after losing it to win the BF Goodrich Trans-Am race at Lakeville, Conn.

Miscellany

Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Michael Irvin has asked the Dallas Cowboys to consider trading him, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Steve Endicott, the agent for Irvin, the Cowboys’ all-time leading receiver, told the newspaper that Irvin had not demanded a trade, “but has let the Cowboys know if something comes along that benefits the team and himself, he would be in favor of it.”

Irvin, 33, had team highs of 74 receptions and 1,057 yards last season, but only one touchdown.

Colin Montgomerie of Scotland won his second consecutive Volvo PGA, shooting an eight-under 64 to beat Mark James by five strokes at Virginia Water, England.

James, the Ryder Cup captain, is in position to get an automatic qualifying spot on the team. However, he said earlier he would not be a playing captain.

The Sparks cut forward Kenya Robinson, reducing their training camp roster to 14. Two Yugoslavian players, Gordana Grubin and Nina Bjedov, are expected to join the team this week.

The Sparks must trim to 11 players by June 9. The team opens its WNBA season June 10 at the Great Western Forum against the Sacramento Monarchs.

Laurent Jalabert of France held off a late-charging Marco Pantani, the overall leader, in a photo finish to win the 16th stage of the Tour of Italy cycling race.

Jalabert, who saw Pantani, the defending champion, overtake him on the final climb the previous day, pulled away with less than 100 yards left at Lumezzane, Italy.

Berhanu Adanne, who started running competitively for Ethiopia only three years ago, pulled away from Armando Quintanilla and Hezron Otwori in the final 400 meters at Boulder, Colo., and won the closest race in the history of the 10-kilometer Bolder Boulder event.

Lidia Simon, a marathon runner from Romania, won the women’s individual title.

Virginia held off a late rally by Syracuse and defeated the Orangemen, 12-10, at College Park, Md., to win the NCAA Division I lacrosse title for the first time since 1972.

The Irish government pressed the governing body for European soccer to cancel this weekend’s planned contest between Ireland and Yugoslavia because of the ongoing Yugoslavian conflict.

Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who publicly criticized UEFA for deciding to stage the European 2000 qualifying game in Dublin on Saturday, will discuss today with his cabinet ministers what more they can do.