Lukas Suspended as Horse Fails Drug Test

Less than a month after his horse, Charismatic, failed to win the triple crown, trainer Wayne Lukas was suspended by Churchill Downs for 10 days after another of his horses failed a postrace drug test May 16.

The suspension, the minimum penalty for a positive test, is scheduled for July 6-15 and probably will be upheld by other state commissions. That means Lukas will not be permitted on the grounds of any recognized race track in the country as long as he is suspended.

The 2-year-old horse Dance Master tested positive for benzenemethanol, which is present in most analgesics and antihistamines. The horse, a 3-5 favorite in the maiden race, finished second and was disqualified from the purse money.

Bernie Hettel, the chief state steward and executive director of the Kentucky Racing Commission, said Lukas told the stewards that he will not appeal. He could not be reached for comment Monday at Santa Anita.

Hettel said benzenemethanol is widely used for minor breathing problems and skin diseases, but it is not permitted in a horse’s system when it races.

Basketball

The Czech Republic and Germany pulled upsets over Lithuania and Greece, and Yugoslavia began the defense of its title with a 20-point victory over Israel on the opening day of the European Championship at Toulouse, France.

A delay during the voting process forced the Basketball Hall of Fame to postpone announcing this year’s inductees until balloting can be completed late this week. The date remained undecided.

Miscellany

One day after Phil Mickelson finished second in the U.S. Open, he got the prize he was after all along.

Amy Mickelson gave birth to a healthy daughter Monday night at Scottsdale, Ariz. Amanda Brynn weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. The mother and daughter were doing fine, according to Mickelson spokesman Mike Biggs.

Mickelson was leading by one stroke with three holes to play Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2 until Payne Stewart rallied to win the U.S. Open by making a 15-foot par putt on the 72nd hole. Otherwise, he and Mickelson would have had an 18-hole playoff Monday.

Roy Kramer, the coordinator for the current bowl championship series, said he’s not interested in a Swiss marketing firm’s $2.4-billion plan for a 16-team college football playoff to begin in 2003.

Kramer’s main reason for rejecting it was that the BCS plan runs three more years, then the Big Ten and Pacific 10 have a contract with the Rose Bowl for three years after that, meaning it would be at least six years before such a plan could go into effect.

Olympic champion and world-record decathlete Dan O’Brien withdrew from the U.S. track championships, which begin Thursday in Eugene, Ore., because of turf toe.

O’Brien said the International Amateur Athletic Federation might grant him a wild-card invitation that would allow him to compete for his fourth world championship despite not participating in the U.S. event. The World Championships will be held August 21-29 at Seville, Spain.

Ascent Entertainment Group announced it had reached an agreement to settle lawsuits filed by shareholders who challenged the sale of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and the new Pepsi Center, but said the $400-million deal with Bill Laurie, scheduled to close June 30, is still in effect.

Australia’s Matthew White picked up his first pro cycling victory in the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse at Mauren, Liechtenstein. Laurent Jalabert finished more than three minutes back, but held on to the overall lead.

The Professional Bowlers Assn.’s AC Delco All-Star Classic, formerly the AC Delco Classic, gets underway today at Cal Bowl in Lakewood. Saturday’s finals will conclude the PBA’s spring/summer televised tour, with the winner collecting $31,000. . . . Former Arizona State guard Isaac Burton Jr. was sentenced to prison at a Phoenix court for taking part in a point-shaving scheme while a player at Arizona State during the 1993-94 season. Burton was sentenced to two months in jail, six months of home detention and three years’ probation. Burton was also fined $8,000 and required to complete 200 hours of community service.

For the Record

Golf--John Daly, who finished last in the U.S. Open, won $7,543. His earnings were incorrect in Monday’s editions.