Olympic Medalists May Get a Tax Bill

Medals at the Sydney Olympics might come with a little something extra--a tax bill.

International competitors who earn cash bonuses from their national Olympic committees and sports federations for winning medals will owe taxes in Australia, even if they receive the money after returning home.

And since Australian tax rates for such earnings range from 29-48 1/2%, athletes making up to $100,000 a gold medal could face huge tax bills.

“If the performance takes place in Australia and income is derived from that performance--regardless of where the contract is entered or where the bonus is paid--taxes are due,” said Peter Rowe, the Olympics project director for the Australian Taxation Office in Canberra.

Athletes would not be taxed for the medals themselves, but on any money they directly earn as a result of their visit to Australia for the Games.

Officials say this is the first time foreign athletes face tax bills for Olympic-related income.

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Bill Bradley has been asked if he wants to be chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee, the New York Times reported.

USOC chief executive Norm Blake said he thought Bradley, the former NBA player who dropped out of the presidential race five months ago, was seriously considering the position.

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Angel Perez, a Cuban kayaker who defected seven years ago, is hoping a last-ditch appeal will allow him to represent the United States in the Sydney Games. Perez’s status is in question after being denied permission from the Cuban government to represent the United States. U.S. Olympic officials will ask the International Olympic Committee on Aug. 28 in Sydney to overturn Cuba’s refusal to allow Perez to compete for the U.S. canoe/kayak team. . . . Keith Sieracki, beaten by Matt Lindland in a rematch ordered by an arbitrator for a spot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team, has filed his own arbitration request. A hearing will be held in Denver today with both athletes and USA Wrestling officials present in an effort to settle the 167 1/2-pound Greco-Roman berth. . . . Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor, in his first competition since a one-year drug suspension, dominated a mediocre field at the low-key International Track Meet of Montauban, winning at 7 feet, 5 3/4 inches at Lausanne, Switzerland.

Pro Basketball

The first four-team trade in NBA history was completed when nine players switched teams, with Howard Eisley going to the Dallas Mavericks, Danny Fortson to the Golden State Warriors, Donyell Marshall to the Utah Jazz and Robert Pack to the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics also get center John “Hot Rod” Williams from the Mavericks, the Jazz’s first-round pick in 2001 and a “substantial amount of cash,” General Manager Chris Wallace said.

Boston also sent guard Dana Barros to Dallas. Utah gets center Bruno Sundov from Dallas, the Mavericks get forward Bill Curley from Golden State and the Jazz sent Adam Keefe to the Warriors.

An NBA source confirmed to the Associated Press that Shawn Kemp will be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Portland Trail Blazers before the end of the month in a three-team trade also involving the Miami Heat.

Miami will get forward Brian Grant, and Cleveland will get forwards Clarence Weatherspoon and Chris Gatling, cash and a future No. 1 pick--either in 2001 or 2002--from the Heat, as well as guard Gary Grant from Portland.

Jelani McCoy, a two-year veteran from UCLA who became a restricted free agent in June, signed a one-year contract to remain with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Miscellany

Andre Sa upset fourth-seeded Mark Philippoussis, 6-1, 7-6 (10), in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at Washington. . . . Defending champion Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador defeated Sebastien Lareau, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, in the second round of an ATP tournament at Indianapolis. . . . Serena Williams stretched the family winning streak to 26 matches with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder in the second round of the du Maurier Open at Montreal.

A grand jury in Fort Worth could review evidence against former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin, who was arrested at an apartment where law officers say they found marijuana and other drugs. The Denton County district attorney’s office will determine whether to prosecute Irvin, the FBI said. . . . Carroll Tessier, a Canadian man, was sentenced in Tampa, Fla., to more than five years in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud two Florida banks to build an arena for the Tampa Bay Lightning. . . . Warrants have been issued in Charlotte, N.C., for the arrest of Deidra Lane, but they are not connected to the July 6 shooting death of her husband, former Carolina Panther running back Fred Lane, authorities said. The warrants were issued Monday for two worthless checks, one written May 30 for $150, the other June 1 for $300, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Center Antti Aalto and the Mighty Ducks agreed to a new one-year contract for $550,000, the result of an arbitrator’s decision in Toronto. Financial terms were not released. Aalto had seven goals and 18 points in 63 games last season, his second full season in the NHL.

The deal leaves Pierre Gauthier, team president and general manager, with only two free agents left to re-sign before the start of training camp Sept. 9. Center Matt Cullen and defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky still need new contracts.