Oklahoma Reportedly Dismisses Quarterback

Oklahoma starting quarterback Rhett Bomar was kicked off the team Wednesday after an investigation revealed he broke NCAA rules through his employment at a local business, according to a television report.

Oklahoma confirmed that two players had been dismissed but did not identify them. The school said in a statement that the players violated NCAA rules by working at a private business and taking “payment over an extended period of time in excess of time actually worked.”

Oklahoma City television station KWTV reported that Bomar, who set an Oklahoma freshman record with 2,018 yards passing after taking over as the Sooners’ starter in the second game last season, was one of the two players dismissed. Oklahoma City television station KOCO reported that Bomar’s roommate, offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, was the second player.

Lee Smith, a Tennessee freshman tight end charged with drunk driving on campus, was dismissed from the team, and redshirt freshman Marsalous Johnson was suspended four games for his arrest on an aggravated assault charge, Coach Phillip Fulmer announced.... Anaheim’s Steven Downs, a Utah State redshirt freshman linebacker, was dismissed for “repeated violations” of team rules, Coach Brent Guy said.

AUTO RACING

Tracy Gets Penalized for Crash and Fight

Paul Tracy was put on probation for three races, fined an undisclosed amount of money and stripped of seven championship points for causing a crash that led to a fight with Alex Tagliani at the San Jose Grand Prix last week. Tagliani was also fined.

CYCLING

Landis’ Attorney Criticizes Leaks

Howard Jacobs, the attorney for cyclist Floyd Landis, criticized the International Cycling Union for leaking the results of the Tour de France winner’s positive “A” sample drug test, saying it breached the organization’s own rules and those of the World Anti-Doping Code.

The attorney also cited a New York Times report that said a carbon isotope ratio test had detected synthetic testosterone in Landis’ system. The Times attributed the report to a person inside the UCI.

“This raises even more concerns, particularly following the provisional suspension earlier this year of a high-ranking UCI official for leaking documents and-or information to” a French newspaper, Jacobs said.

TENNIS

Fish Advances at Washington

Mardy Fish beat Tomas Zib, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the third round of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, setting up a match against Andrea Stoppini, who upset five-time champion Andre Agassi on Tuesday.

MISCELLANY

Masseuse Denies Role in Gatlin’s Doping Case

An Oregon massage therapist denied using a cream containing testosterone on sprinter Justin Gatlin. Christopher Whetstine was drawn into the case by the sprinter’s coach, Trevor Graham, who accused him of unknowingly applying the cream because of a grudge.

“Trevor Graham is not speaking on behalf of Justin Gatlin, and the statement about me is not true,” Whetstine said Wednesday in a statement read by his attorney, Elizabeth Baker. “I have fully cooperated with the investigation into this matter.”

Gatlin the co-world-record holder in the 100 meters, faces a lifetime ban after failing a drug test.

Even though former basketball coach Jim O’Brien broke NCAA rules by giving money to a recruit, a judge in Columbus, Ohio, ruled that Ohio State must pay O’Brien $2.2 million plus interest because it failed to follow the terms of his contract. Ohio State said it would appeal.

AC Milan, a six-time European champion barred from Europe’s top club competition by an Italian sports tribunal investigating the country’s match-fixing scandal, will play in the Champions League this season, UEFA said. The Italian ruling was overturned on appeal.

The Ducks signed defenseman Brian Salcido, a 2005 fifth-round selection, to a three-year entry-level contract.

Knocked down in the first round, Japan’s Koki Kameda (12-0) won a split decision over Venezuelan Juan Landaeta (20-4) for the vacant WBA light flyweight title in Tokyo.

Matt Dominguez, a three-time All-City Section third baseman at Chatsworth High, committed to Cal State Fullerton.

PASSINGS

Former 76ers Owner, Acquired Erving

Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr., a former owner of the Philadelphia 76ers best known for obtaining Julius Erving, died Wednesday of cancer. He was 82.