ISU Votes to Implement a New Judging System

The International Skating Union’s ruling council voted to adopt a new judging system next season at the Nebelhorn Trophy event as well as the six individual Grand Prix events and the Grand Prix final.

Skaters will be awarded points based on predetermined values of elements, such as jumps or spins, and the traditional 6.0 perfect score will be abolished.

The next step would be to submit to the ISU Congress in 2004 technical rule proposals regarding the system. If accepted into the ISU regulations, the new system will be used at all subsequent major events, such as the Olympics.

The ISU Council also said it will decide in June whether to display more information on the scoreboard next season to better explain skaters’ placements under the interim judging system. The interim system will again be used in 2004 ISU world, European and Four Continents competitions.

A code of ethics and the establishment of a new disciplinary commission were discussed and will be presented at the next Council meeting in June.

-- Helene Elliott

Pro Football

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, who had the fifth-most sacks in the NFL over the last two seasons, signed a seven-year contract with the Green Bay Packers.

The deal, reached late Tuesday night, will bring the defensive end $37.3 million, of which $13.25 million is guaranteed, agent Bruce Tollner said.

Gbaja-Biamila had 12 sacks in 2002, his second season with at least 10 sacks. He had a career-high 45 tackles.

He is seventh on the Packers’ career sacks list with 27.

Center Mike Gruttadauria, who started 31 games for Arizona over the last three years, was released by the club.... Receiver Jacquez Green and quarterback Jonathan Beasley were released by Detroit.... Minnesota and backup tight end Hunter Goodwin agreed to terms on a two-year contract....Houston re-signed backup cornerback Kenny Wright and signed former New Orleans linebacker Charlie Clemons.

Tennis

The Czech Republic might withdraw from its first-round Fed Cup match in the United States because of fears about a possible terrorist attack, the Mlada Fronta Dnes daily reported in its Web edition.

The best-of-five Fed Cup series is scheduled for April 26-27 at Lowell, Mass. The Czechs will decide April 16 whether to play, the report said.

Sisters Serena and Venus Williams have been selected play on the U.S. team. It would be the fifth time in Fed Cup history that the world’s two top players will be on the same team. The U.S. has won a record 17 Fed Cup titles.

Mary Pierce overcame blurred vision to defeat Marion Bartoli, 6-4, 6-2, in the first round of the $140,000 Sarasota (Fla.) Clay Court Classic.

Pierce, a former French and Australian Open champion, used her experience to counter the quick 19-year-old Bartoli in a battle of French natives.

Pierce, 28, had problems with her contact lenses throughout the match.

Second-seeded Rita Grande defeated fellow Italian Maria Elena Camerin, 6-2, 7-5, to reach the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix de SAR at Casablanca, Morocco.

Lindsay Davenport was drafted by the Newport Beach Breakers of World Team Tennis.

Jurisprudence

A jury in Minneapolis began deliberations in the trial of Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Twin outfielder Kirby Puckett, accused of dragging a woman into a restaurant bathroom Sept. 5 and groping her.

Jurors deliberated for about 5 1/2 hours without reaching a verdict and the judge sequestered them at a hotel for the night. They were scheduled to reconvene today.

Puckett, 43, is charged with felony false imprisonment and criminal sexual conduct and assault, both misdemeanors.

Miscellany

Snowboarder Chad Otterstrom has been suspended for life after testing positive for a banned stimulant.

Otterstrom, 26, of Breckenridge, Colo., tested positive for the stimulant methylphenidate Jan. 11 at the U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix at Breckenridge, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said.

It was Otterstrom’s second violation for using the drug. His victory in the men’s super-pipe in the U.S. Snowboard Grand Prix was voided, the agency said.

Olympian Ed Moses won the men’s 200 meters breaststroke in the U.S. National Spring Swimming Championships at Indianapolis, finishing in 2 minutes 11.22 seconds and just missing the American record of 2:10.16.

Other men’s winners included Scott Tucker in the 100 freestyle, Michael Phelps in the 200 backstroke and Takashi Yamamoto in the 200 butterfly.

Women’s winners included Rhiannon Jeffrey in the 100 free, Agnes Kovacs in the 200 breaststroke, Georgina Lee in the 200 butterfly and Jennifer Fratesi in the 200 backstroke.

Passings

Champion driver Fermin Velez died of cancer Monday in Barcelona, three days shy of his 44th birthday.

The Spanish driver won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1995 and 1997 and finished 10th in the 1997 Indianapolis 500.

T.J. Simers has the day off.