NASCAR Fines Gordon, Kahne

Robby Gordon and Kasey Kahne avoided suspensions Monday when NASCAR penalized them for incidents during Sunday’s Nextel Cup Series race at Loudon, N.H.

Gordon was fined $35,000 and docked 50 points in the driver standings for intentionally trying to hit Michael Waltrip’s car, throwing his helmet at Waltrip’s car, and using offensive language during a television interview.

Kahne was fined $25,000 and penalized 25 points in the standings for intentionally hitting Kyle Busch’s car in retaliation for an earlier accident.

“There have been a growing number of incidents lately where drivers have taken matters into their own hands,” NASCAR President Mike Helton said. “Such unsafe and inappropriate behavior has to stop.

“NASCAR will use whatever means necessary to stop it.”

Waltrip was fined $10,000 and 25 points for using an obscene gesture during the televised broadcast, and his car owner, Teresa Earnhardt, was penalized 25 points.

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Tennis

Lindsay Davenport pulled out of the China Open in Beijing because of a strained lower back.

Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams all have first-round byes.

Katarina Srebotnik rallied to beat Henrieta Nagyova, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3, in the first round of the Slovenia Open at Portoroz....Vilmarie Castellvi defeated Emmanuelle Gagliardi, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round of the Sunfeast Open at Calcutta.

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Golf

Defending champion Mark Bemowski and qualifying medalist Billy Clagett won first-round matches in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Rocky Face, Ga.

Bemowski, 59, beat Frank Saxon, 3 and 2, at the Farm Golf Club to improve to 15-3 in the event for players 55 and older.

Four-time champion Carol Semple Thompson advanced to the second round of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Rye, N.Y., beating Barbara Pagana of Selinsgrove, Pa., 6 and 4, at the Apawamis Club.

Annika Sorenstam and Paula Creamer teamed to win the Kraft/Nabisco Shoot-Out at Boise, Idaho.

Sorenstam and Creamer beat the teams of Jason Gore and Troy Matteson and Natalie Gulbis and Juli Inkster in the nine-hole skins event on the Hillcrest Country Club course.

Sorenstam and Creamer earned $15,000 for women’s breast cancer research.

Defending champion Sorenstam, LPGA rookie of the year Creamer, Gulbis and 15-year-old Michelle Wie are among those announced in the field for the Samsung World Championship, scheduled for Oct. 13-16 on the Canyons Course at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert.

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Hockey

The NHL Players’ Assn. has filed a grievance on behalf of St. Louis Blues forward Keith Tkachuk, who was suspended Friday for failing his physical. Larry Pleau, the team’s general manager, said he was aware of the grievance but did not know any particulars.

The Columbus Blue Jackets signed right wing Adam Pineault, the club’s second-round pick in the 2004 draft.

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College Basketball

USC men’s Coach Tim Floyd has received oral commitments from Daniel Hackett, a junior point guard at Bellflower St. John Bosco High and son of first-year staff member Rudy Hackett, and Taj Gibson, a senior power forward at Tarzana Stoneridge Prep.

Louisville sophomore center David Padgett will be sidelined at least six weeks after breaking a bone in his right foot in a pickup game.

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Miscellany

Cycling’s governing body denied that its president supplied a French sports newspaper with documents used to accuse Lance Armstrong of doping at the 1999 Tour de France.

The International Cycling Union also said that Dick Pound, World Anti-Doping Agency chief, was blocking its investigation by withholding information. UCI said Pound must be held accountable and “conduct of this type will not be tolerated.”

Pound said last week he had received a letter from UCI President Hein Verbruggen saying he had provided L’Equipe with forms indicating Armstrong had tested positive for EPO during the first of his Tour victories.

FC Barcelona’s Ronaldinho was voted soccer’s world player of the year by his fellow pros. FIFPro, the international players organization, announced the awards at a dinner in London.

Don King Productions postponed the Sept. 30 fight card at St. Louis featuring Virgil Hill fighting Valery Brudov for the vacant World Boxing Assn. title because of lackluster ticket sales.

Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix gave the U.S. a sweep of the 100-meter sprints at the Yokohama Super track and field meet in Japan. Gatlin won in 10.13 seconds; Felix in 11.05. Jackson Bershawn of the U.S. won the men’s 400 hurdles in 48.24.