Commission Will File Complaint Against Vargas

The Nevada State Athletic Commission will file a formal complaint against Fernando Vargas, either today or Thursday, for using a banned substance, according to Executive Director Marc Ratner.

A urine test taken after Vargas’ loss to Oscar De La Hoya on Sept. 14 in a 154-pound championship fight at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center revealed the presence of stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.

The tests were run on only half of Vargas’ urine sample. The result of tests on the other half of the sample are expected back later this week.

Ratner said he is confident enough of the results in hand to proceed with the complaint.

Once it is received, Vargas, who is expected to be suspended for six months to a year, will be granted a hearing within 30 to 45 days.

Vargas, in a written statement issued last week, blamed his handlers for giving him the steroid without his knowledge.

Steve Springer

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Johnny Tapia was stripped of his International Boxing Federation featherweight belt because he scheduled a nontitle fight.

Tapia, required to defend his title by Oct. 27, instead scheduled a Nov. 2 nontitle bout with Marco Antonio Barrera.

Golf

Despite the Ryder Cup victory at the Belfry on Sunday, European Tour Executive Director Ken Schofield is expected later this year to propose amending the system before the 2004 event at Oakland Hills, Mich.

Leading European players support him, arguing that the present system is illogical.

For several years, the team has been made up of the top 10 players from the Order of Merit--the European money list--and two captain’s picks. Schofield wants the team made up of the leading five Europeans on the world ranking and the top five from the Order of Merit, along with the captain’s picks.

The move, reflecting the trend of more top Europeans playing mainly on the U.S. tour, would mean that Sergio Garcia, ranked fifth in the world, would not have to be a captain’s pick, as he was this time. He did not play enough in Europe to qualify from the Order of Merit.

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Ford Division signed a four-year contract to be the title sponsor of the PGA tournament at the Doral Resort & Spa in Miami. The tournament, played in March, will be known as the Ford Championship. Terms were not disclosed.

College Basketball

Iowa guard Pierre Pierce was arrested on a sexual assault charge and suspended from the team.

Pierce, who had the second-most assists of any freshman in school history last season, pleaded not guilty and was released. He agreed not to travel outside Iowa and Illinois.

The charge stems from a report filed Sept. 7 by a woman treated at a hospital emergency room the day before.

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An NCAA appeals committee overturned the one-game suspensions Georgia’s Ezra Williams and Damien Wilkins received for playing in an unsanctioned summer league.

Tennis

Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian lost to Rainer Schuttler, 7-6 (6), 6-4, in the first round of the Kremlin Cup at Moscow. Nalbandian led the tiebreaker, 6-3, before Schuttler won five consecutive points to win the first set.

Defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov rallied to defeat Vladimir Voltchkov, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

In the women’s draw, Anna Kournikova reached the second round by defeating Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian, 6-4, 6-3.

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Tenth-seeded Jan-Michael Gambill was upset by Takao Suzuki, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, in the first round of the Japan Open at Tokyo, where heavy rain and strong winds wiped out several matches.

Auto Racing

Two struggling Winston Cup drivers will have new crew chiefs in 2003.

Jimmy Makar is switching from Bobby Labonte’s crew chief to team manager for the Joe Gibbs Racing team, and Tommy Baldwin has left Daytona 500 winner Ward Burton.

Makar, Labonte’s chief since 1995, will finish the season and help search for his replacement.

Baldwin reportedly got into an argument with team owner Bill Davis after Burton’s last-place finish in Kansas City on Sunday. A team spokesperson said Baldwin cleaned out his office Monday.

Frankie Stoddard was hired to finish the season with Burton.

Miscellany

Doug Kay was hired as defensive coordinator for the Avengers.

Kay, an assistant at UCLA in the late 1970s, has spent 10 seasons in the Arena Football League, including as coach of the Charlotte Rage and Carolina Cobras.

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Olympic swimming gold medalist and Emmy Award winner Donna de Varona, 55, dropped her $50-million discrimination suit against ABC Sports and is rejoining the network.

De Varona sued ABC Sports in April 2000, saying she was fired because of her age and gender.

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High winds today forced a postponement of America’s Cup racing at Auckland, New Zealand, a day after all three American boats opened with victories as challenger qualifying began.

Seattle’s OneWorld syndicate recorded the largest winning margin Tuesday, crushing Italian team Mascalzone Latino by 5 minutes 43 seconds.

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Former Ohio State linebacker Marco Cooper pleaded guilty to felony charges of drug possession and carrying a concealed weapon.

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The United States defeated Venezuela, 26-24, 25-18, 33-31, to finish unbeaten in the first round of the men’s World Volleyball Championships at Buenos Aires.

Passings

Len Casanova, former Oregon football coach and athletic director, died Monday after a long illness. He was 97.