Jones’ Invitation Withdrawn

Marion Jones’ invitation to run in Paris on Sunday was withdrawn after organizers decided to join directors of other major European track meets and shun her and Tim Montgomery because their links to the BALCO scandal might scare advertisers.

Montgomery was accused of doping by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and Jones is under investigation for possible violations, but neither has tested positive. Jones is scheduled to run in a meet in Milan on June 1.

-- Helene Elliott

Tennis

Top-ranked Roger Federer beat Tommy Robredo, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Masters at Hamburg, Germany.

Christophe Rochus upset fourth-seeded Gaston Gaudio, last year’s French Open champion, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova defeated Mary Pierce, 7-6 (4), 6-4, in the third round of the Italian Open at Rome. Sharapova next faces ninth-seeded Elena Bovina, who defeated Paola Suarez, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

James Blake advanced to the semifinals of the Forest Hills Clay Court Championship with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 victory over Hugo Armando at New York.

Hockey

The NHL and the players’ association ended three days of labor talks in New York by discussing team financial reporting practices and reviewing the Levitt Report, a league-commissioned financial analysis issued 15 months ago.

The Levitt Report said NHL teams lost a collective $273 million in 2002-03 and that only 11 of 30 were profitable. The NHLPA contended the results were skewed because accounting methods permitted teams to omit significant revenue streams.

The sides will reconvene next week.

The Czech Republic defeated the United States, 3-2, in the quarterfinals of the world hockey championship at Vienna.

Martin Rucinsky netted the lone shootout goal, sending the Czechs into Saturday’s semifinals against Sweden, which beat Switzerland, 2-1.

The other semifinal will feature Canada, which beat Slovakia, 5-4, and Russia, which beat Finland, 4-3.

Auto Racing

Buddy Rice was released from the hospital one day after a hard crash during practice ended his hopes for a second straight start from the pole in the Indianapolis 500.

Rice, the defending Indy winner, was hospitalized overnight because of a severe bruise to his back and a concussion. Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials said that Rice wouldn’t be cleared to drive until at least next week -- meaning he cannot qualify this weekend.

During Thursday’s practice, Danica Patrick, trying to become the fourth female driver to race at Indianapolis, had the fastest speed, turning a top lap of 227.633 mph.

Miscellany

The commissioners of Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Soccer will testify next week at two days of congressional hearings about legislation calling for standard steroid testing across U.S. sports.

Karch Kiraly and Mike Lambert, the Assn. of Volleyball professionals top men’s team a year ago, have split up and will play with new partners next week in Santa Barbara.

Lambert and Kirlay won three tournaments last season, but have not placed higher than seventh this year. Lambert will reunite with Eric Fonoimoana. Kiraly has not decided on a partner.

Former major league pitcher Vida Blue could be headed to jail after failing to complete his probation from his latest drunken-driving conviction, San Mateo County authorities said.

Blue, who played most of his 17 major league seasons with the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants, was set to appear in court Monday for failing to perform his required community service after pleading no contest in April 2004 to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge, court officials said.