Chinese Swimmers Face Ban After Failed Drug Tests

In a further setback for China’s anti-doping efforts, two Chinese swimmers--one of whom already has served a two-year ban for steroid use--have failed drug tests, a Chinese swimming official said Tuesday.

Gunnar Werner, honorary secretary of FINA, swimming’s international governing body, said Xiong Guoming, who won gold at last year’s Asian Games after having served his ban, and Wei Wang tested positive for the drug clenbuterol in an out-of-competition test March 8.

Second tests on urine samples from the swimmers will be conducted June 15 in Barcelona, Spain. Even though clenbuterol is not regarded as severely as anabolic steroids, Werner said Xiong faces a ban of two years to life as a repeat offender if the second test also is positive.

The positive tests are a blow to China’s efforts to convince the world it is winning its war against doping.

In 18 months, 10 Chinese swimmers and coaches have been banned from competition or coaching because of drugs, the state-run Legal Daily said.

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Olympic champion Michelle Smith de Bruin of Ireland retired from swimming, insisting she had not used drugs and hoping she had not disgraced her country.

She made her announcement a day after losing her appeal of a four-year ban for manipulating a urine sample.

The Irish government, which once hailed Smith for the greatest Olympic performance by an Irish athlete, ruefully accepted the verdict. And Irish swim authorities are considering stripping her of her national records.

Smith, 29, won three gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Tennis

Andre Agassi, who has an injured thigh, withdrew from a Wimbledon tuneup at Halle, Germany, two days after winning the French Open. Agassi plans to return to the United States for treatment and intends to play Wimbledon, which starts June 28.

Boris Becker of Germany, back where he won his first pro tennis title 14 years ago, began tuning up for his final Wimbledon appearance with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Petr Korda in the first round of the Queens Club tournament at London. . . . Jim Courier, who beat Greg Rusedski in five sets in a come-from-behind victory over Britain in April in the Davis Cup, said the drama of that match has rekindled Pete Sampras’ desire to play in the international team competition. Courier said Sampras wants to play Davis Cup doubles. . . . Martina Hingis was fined $1,500 by the International Tennis Federation for crossing the net line in the French Open final against Steffi Graf. Hingis, who lost in three sets to Graf on Saturday, also was given a warning for smashing her racket and was penalized a point for crossing the line to argue a call with the umpire and lineswoman.

Pro Football

The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent cornerback and kick returner Darrien Gordon and released wide receiver Desmond Howard, the former Heisman Trophy winner and MVP in Super Bowl XXXI with Green Bay. . . . The New England Patriots gave up on former first-round draft pick Chris Canty, releasing the cornerback after two years. . . . Clay Shiver, who started 25 games at center for Dallas the last two years, signed with the Denver Broncos.

Miscellany

Steve Fried, chief mechanic for Robby McGehee, Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, will have surgery today for a broken jaw, one of the injuries he suffered in a pit accident during the race May 30.

Gilbert Mudge, the cardiologist at the center of the malpractice suit stemming from the death of Boston Celtic captain Reggie Lewis, gave a detailed account in court of the day he says the player privately confessed he was a cocaine user.

Two weeks later, on July 27, 1993, Mudge testified, Lewis died of a cardiac arrhythmia while practicing jump shots. He was 27.

In what looms as a record soccer deal worth $45 million, Italian striker Christian Vieri was set to be sent from Lazio of Rome to Internazionale of Milan. . . . Savo Milosevic scored two goals as Yugoslavia defeated Malta, 4-1, at Salonica, Greece, for its third victory in Group 8 qualifying for the 2000 European Championship. The war in Yugoslavia forced UEFA, Europe’s soccer governing body, to change the site from Belgrade and move the game to Salonica.

PGA Tour regular Len Mattiace shot a seven-under-par 65 in the second round at Summit, N.J., to take medal honors and to join Fuzzy Zoeller and five others in qualifying for the U.S. Open.

Australian International Olympic Committee member Phil Coles should not be expelled from the Olympic movement for preparing secret dossiers on other members, IOC Vice President Dick Pound said. Pound, of Canada, told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper that “there wouldn’t be too many IOC members around” if they faced dismissal for gathering information on fellow delegates to help Games bid committees. The IOC meets in Seoul on Monday to vote on whether to expel Coles for his role in preparing dossiers of private information about his colleagues. . . . Jean-Claude Ganga, expelled from the IOC for corruption, plans to resign in September as president of the Assn. of National Olympic Committees of Africa, a South African official said.

Fighting broke out among Indian and Pakistani fans at a World Cup cricket match in Manchester, England, when good-natured sloganeering and flag-waving degenerated into violence.

Four boxers in each weight class will fight for berths on top American international teams in the U.S. Challenge on Thursday and Friday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The winners will represent the United States in the World Championships at Houston Aug. 17-27. The runners-up will compete in the Pan-Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada, July 29-Aug. 7.

Bill Greene, the projected starting fullback on the Michigan State football team, has been suspended indefinitely after being charged in connection with a riot at the school in March. Greene, 22, was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of assembling for a riot. It is punishable by 90 days in jail.

Kenya’s Bernhard Barmasai, world-record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, led a 1-2-3 Kenyan finish at a Grand Prix track and field meet in Bratislava, Slovakia, marred because of horrible weather conditions.