French Skating Head Denies New Charges

Only days before a hearing into alleged misconduct at the Winter Olympics, the head of France’s skating association is facing new charges that he pressured judges at other events to manipulate skaters’ scores.

Didier Gailhaguet, the French skating federation president involved in the Salt Lake City judging scandal in the pairs competition, said Wednesday he has “never” ordered any judge to fix a competition to help French skaters win.

“I simply always demand that our judges behave in a manner that best represents France,” Gailhaguet said.

His remarks came in response to a report in the Washington Post that French skating judge Alain Miquel sent a letter of complaint about Gailhaguet to the International Skating Union this week.

Tennis

Top-ranked Jennifer Capriati, playing on clay for the first time since winning the 2001 French Open, defeated Janette Husarova, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, in a second-round match in the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, S.C.... Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson advanced to the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco, defeating Stefan Koubek, 6-4, 6-1.... Lindsay Davenport will miss the French Open for the second consecutive year because of a knee injury, tournament organizers said.... Capriati will team with Monica Seles, Lisa Raymond and Meghan Shaughnessy when the U.S. plays Austria at Charlotte, N.C., on April 27-28 in a Federation Cup match.... Andre Agassi will make his World TeamTennis debut for the Sacramento Capitals on July 18 against Los Angeles.

Pro Football

Free-agent tight end Ken Dilger, a former Indianapolis Colt, agreed to terms on a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers also agreed to terms on a three-year deal with receiver Karl Williams.... Former Atlanta Falcon quarterback Tony Graziani was named the starter for the Avengers, who begin their third Arena Football League season Friday night by playing host to the New York Dragons at Staples Center.

Miscellany

Evan Burns, a 6-foot-8 forward from Fairfax High, has signed a national letter of intent to attend UCLA and indicated to Bruin coaches that he will not make himself available for the NBA draft.... Freshman guard Dajuan Wagner of Memphis and junior forward Theron Smith of Ball State said they will make themselves available for the NBA draft.... Guard Travis Hanour, who played for the Arizona team that lost the 2001 national championship game, will transfer to San Diego State with former Laguna Beach High teammate Chris Manker.... LeBron James of Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary, who was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, became the first high school junior named Gatorade’s national basketball player of the year in the award’s 17-year history.

A woman has filed a lawsuit in Foster City, Calif., accusing Dallas Cowboy defensive tackle Dimitrius Underwood of sexual assault. The plaintiff, listed as Jane Doe, accuses Underwood of assaulting her in the team’s hotel on Oct. 7, while the Cowboys were in town to play the Oakland Raiders.... Former University of Minnesota basketball coach Clem Haskins will not be prosecuted for his role in an academic cheating scandal, his attorney said.

Buckshot Jones was fired by Petty Enterprises and replaced in the NASCAR Winston Cup ride by Steve Grissom, who will begin driving the team’s Dodges this weekend in Talladega, Ala.... Indy Racing League driver Eliseo Salazar might be sidelined for nine months following surgery to repair a torn artery in his chest. He crashed Tuesday during a test session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.