ATP Players Shouldn’t Be Let Off Hook, Says Agency

Seven Assn. of Tennis Professional players who tested positive for steroids were let off on “unsustainable grounds,” a World Anti-Doping Agency report concluded Friday.

The 21-page report said the players’ defense -- the nandrolone found in their urine samples came from supplements provided by ATP trainers -- was unfounded.

Mark Young, the ATP’s general counsel, disagreed with the report’s conclusion, saying the “decisions applied sound legal principles to the evidence that was presented.”

Of the seven players, only Bohdan Ulihrach was identified. Ulihrach was banned for two years on May 1, 2003, but reinstated two months later. The other six were let off without suspensions after hearings.

An eighth case, in which Greg Rusedski also was exonerated, was not covered by the report.

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Lindsay Davenport rallied to defeat Mashona Washington, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, in the quarterfinals of the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford. Also advancing was Venus Williams, who swept Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi of Israel, 6-0, 6-3. In the semifinals, Williams will play Amy Frazier, and Davenport will play Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela.

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Gaston Gaudio of Argentina defeated Jiri Novak of Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the Mercedes Cup semifinals at Stuttgart, Germany.

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Marcelo Rios, 28, of Chile, once ranked No. 1 in the world, retired because of a recurring back injury, ending a career that included 18 singles titles.

Golf

Jonathan Byrd took a one-shot lead in the second round of the B.C. Open at Endicott, N.Y., with a seven-under 65 that included nine birdies. Daniel Chopra and John Morgan were tied for second at 11-under 133.

Gloria Park took a one-shot, first-round lead in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Squaw Creek Country Club at Vienna, Ohio, with a six-under 66 that included 10 birdies.

Dayton Rose, a senior at Oklahoma State, advanced to the championship match of the U.S. Amateur Public Links for a second consecutive year. He will meet 2002 champion Ryan Moore, from Nevada Las Vegas, for the title today at Maple Grove, Minn.

Auto Racing

Buddy Rice won his second consecutive Indy Racing League pole and fourth this year with a lap of 201.231 mph at Nashville Superspeedway. He will go for his third victory of the year in today’s Firestone Indy 200.

Jack Sprague broke the Gateway International Raceway qualifying record with a 133.227 lap and took the pole position for today’s NASCAR truck series race at Madison, Ill.

Officials from Champ Car and the IRL met at least twice this week, but no agreement on a merger of the open-wheel racing leagues was reached.

Max Mosley withdrew his resignation as president of Formula One’s governing body after being urged by the International Automobile Federation Senate to stay. Mosley has been president since October 1993.

Pro Basketball

Restricted free-agent forward Morris Peterson signed an offer sheet with New Orleans, giving Toronto 15 days to match it. Peterson’s agent, Rob Pelinka, said the deal was worth $15 million over three years. ... Indiana re-signed free agent point guard Anthony Johnson. ... Denver signed center Marcus Camby to a multiyear deal. He agreed to terms two weeks ago, but the details weren’t worked out until the Nuggets completed the sign-and-trade deal for Kenyon Martin with New Jersey.

Miscellany

Glynn Cyprien was fired two months after becoming basketball coach at Louisiana Lafayette because he did not have a degree from Texas San Antonio as listed on his resume. Assistant Robert Lee was tentatively appointed as Cyprien’s replacement.

Danny Szetela, a 17-year-old national player of the year, signed a contract with Major League Soccer. MLS will select a team for Szetela through a lottery on Thursday.

Sue Haywood filled the lone women’s spot on the U.S. Olympic mountain biking team, finishing one point ahead of Mary McConneloug in the international standings for the year that ended Monday, according to USA Cycling.

Kim Severson, John Williams and Amy Tryon, members of the gold-medal team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games, were among selections for the U.S. Olympic team.

The United States defeated Italy, 25-20, 17-25, 18-25, 25-22, 17-15, in the World Grand Prix women’s volleyball tournament at Hong Kong.

Ratko Rudic signed a four-year extension to coach the U.S. men’s national water polo team.

Deanna Jackson’s 19 points led Indiana over Detroit, 85-73, in a WNBA game in front of 7,848 at Indianapolis.

Sound and Vision columnist Mike Penner is on assignment.