Gatlin’s Coach Could Face Two-Year Ban

Justin Gatlin’s coach could face a two-year ban if the Olympic and world champion sprinter is found guilty of a second doping violation, the sport’s international governing body said Monday.

The International Assn. of Athletics Federations will act only if evidence links Trevor Graham to any doping violations and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency decides not to take action against him, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said.

At least six athletes who trained under Graham have received doping suspensions. Graham, however, has always denied direct knowledge or involvement with drug use.

Gatlin said Saturday he had been informed by the USADA that he tested positive for testosterone or other steroids after a relay race in Kansas in April. He said he has never knowingly taken banned substances.

If found guilty, Gatlin would face a life ban and the loss of his share of the 100-meter world record. He equaled Jamaican Asafa Powell’s mark of 9.77 seconds in May, a month after the positive test.

In a column published Monday, former Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson said Gatlin’s association with Graham was the biggest obstacle to proving that he’s not a drug cheat.

“Not because I have suspected that Justin was doping -- I’ve always had a lot of respect for him -- but there has always been one thing about him that has bothered me: his association with coach Trevor Graham,” Johnson wrote.

“Even if Gatlin is innocent, now he will be suspected forever and he is about to see the danger of his continued association with Graham, because that association almost guarantees that no one will give him the benefit of the doubt.”

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PRO BASKETBALL

Bucks Trade Magloire to Trail Blazers

The Milwaukee Bucks traded center Jamaal Magloire to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Steve Blake, forward Brian Skinner and center Ha Seung-Jin.

Magloire, 28, averaged 9.2 points and a team-high 9.5 rebounds for Milwaukee last season. He was the only Buck to start all 82 games.

The Charlotte Bobcats signed second-round pick Ryan Hollins, a 7-footer who started at center on UCLA’s Final Four team last season, averaging seven points and 4.8 rebounds.

Miami Heat guard Jason Williams was cleared to begin rehabilitation after surgery to repair a partial tear of his right patella tendon that caused him to sit out 18 games last season.

The Lakers’ new team in the NBA Development League will be called the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the result of an online naming contest among fans.

The team, which has not appointed a coach or general manager, will play home games in Staples Center, before and after Lakers home games.

-- Jerry Crowe

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TENNIS

Roddick Withdraws From Tournament

Andy Roddick withdrew from the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington because of a strained back, but said the injury shouldn’t prevent him from being at full strength for the U.S. Open.

Roddick strained the lower left side of his back after a second-round victory over Scott Oudsema at the Countrywide Classic at UCLA last week. He went on to reach the finals of that tournament, losing to James Blake.

The injury hindered Roddick throughout a 30-minute practice Monday.

Roddick’s first match was scheduled for Wednesday against Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States will replace Roddick in the draw.

Play began at the Legg Mason with Wesley Moodie beating Thousand Oaks teenager Sam Querrey, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6), even though Querrey dominated his opponent with 19 aces in the first set, winning 82% of his first-serve points.

Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko needed only 54 minutes to beat Christophe Rochus, 6-1, 6-2, and 2003 champion Guillermo Coria retired because of a right shoulder injury at the rainy Prokom Open in Sopot, Poland.

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MOTOR RACING

Busch Winner Gilliland’s Part-Time Team Folds

The Busch Series team that put David Gilliland on the NASCAR map folded, an indication that the upstart Riverside driver has accepted a better ride.

Gilliland shocked NASCAR by winning the Busch race at Kentucky Speedway in June driving for Clay Andrews Racing, a part-time team. The victory earned Gilliland numerous offers from top-level Nextel Cup teams.

Andrews, of Corona, apparently saw it as a sign that he couldn’t keep 30-year-old Gilliland and closed his operation.

-- Jim Peltz

The turmoil at Robert Yates Racing continued when crew chiefs Tommy Baldwin and Slugger Labbe were released from their contracts. Their departure comes during a chaotic time for the once-proud team. Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler are leaving at the end of the season. Yates gave no reason for the crew chiefs’ departures, announcing only that Cully Barraclough would take over Sadler’s team and Butch Hylton would be in charge of Jarrett’s team beginning with Sunday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

USC Freshman to Have Shoulder Surgery

USC freshman receiver Jamere Holland will have shoulder surgery, and will sit out training camp and an undetermined portion of the season, Coach Pete Carroll said. USC begins practice Thursday.

-- Gary Klein

Tulsa extended the contract of Coach Steve Kragthorpe, a deal that runs through the 2011 season.

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MISCELLANY

Red Wings Sign Hasek to a One-Year Deal

The Detroit Red Wings signed 41-year-old goalie Dominik Hasek to a one-year contract worth $750,000.

Hasek, who helped the Red Wings to their most recent Stanley Cup title in 2002, is returning to Detroit after an injury-riddled season with the Ottawa Senators. He joins another Red Wings Cup-winner, Chris Osgood, who was brought back as a reserve.

Two Israeli clubs in the UEFA Cup will play their home qualifying matches in neutral countries. UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, said it made the decision in view of the security situation in the region, where Israel is fighting Hezbollah. UEFA still hasn’t decided on the venues.

UEFA also released disciplinary regulations stating that players making racist remarks or gestures could be suspended for up to five games.

Lebanon has pulled out of the 2007 Asian Cup soccer qualifiers, citing turmoil from the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

Germany set a world record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle relay at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary. The time was 3 minutes 35.22 seconds.

Tour de France cycling champion Floyd Landis officially requested the testing of his backup urine sample in an effort to clear his name of doping allegations.

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PASSINGS

Balding, First Canadian to Win on PGA Tour

Al Balding, the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event, died Sunday of cancer in Ontario. He was 82.

Balding won the Mayfair Open in 1955, and had his best season in 1957 when he finished eighth on the money list, according to the PGA Tour. He won three tournaments that year -- the Miami Beach Open, the West Palm Beach Open and the Havana International.