Track Panel OKs Strict Steroid Ban

USA Track & Field’s board of directors voted unanimously Wednesday to ban for life athletes who test positive for steroids.

The zero-tolerance policy also would ban the athletes’ coaches.

The proposal will go to a USATF subcommittee and from there to the full federation for a final vote Sunday, the last day of the group’s annual meeting at Greensboro, N.C.

“Right now, it’s the right way to go,” said board member and six-time Olympic medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee. “People can see we have been serious.... The last two, three months ... ended up hurting our sport.”

Golf

Danny Briggs and Swedes Mathias Gronberg and Daniel Chopra shot five-under 67s in windy conditions to share the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament at Winter Garden, Fla.

The top 30 players after the sixth round Monday will receive 2004 PGA Tour cards.

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Australia’s Robert Allenby, a four-time winner on the PGA Tour, has replaced David Toms in the 16-player field of next week’s Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club.

Miscellany

Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley was diagnosed with a gastric ulcer, which caused internal bleeding and his hospitalization. Dooley, 71, is in stable condition and may be released today, a Georgia spokesman said.

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Joe Leonard, Chris Pook, Don Prudhomme, Les Richter and Roger Ward are nominees for the fifth Eagle One-Shav Glick Award, which recognizes distinguished achievement in motor racing by a Californian. The award will be presented May 2 at California Speedway.

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Paul Annacone, the former coach of Pete Sampras, will be working part time with Tim Henman in 2004, Henman announced on his Web site.

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The U.S. women’s water polo team defeated Australia, 6-5, on the first day of the Holiday Cup at the National Aquatic Center in Los Alamitos.

Passings

Frank Monise, 78, a Pasadena car repair shop owner who raced sports cars on the West Coast for nearly 50 years, died Saturday of a heart attackServices are pending.