Marion Jones Linked to Check Scheme

Bank records connect sprinter Marion Jones to an alleged check-counterfeiting scheme that led to criminal charges against her coach and Tim Montgomery, her ex-boyfriend.

Documents filed in a federal court in Manhattan show a $25,000 check made out to Jones was deposited in her bank account from a Virginia man prosecutors have accused of enlisting friends and business partners to help launder the proceeds of the multimillion-dollar plot.

The money was drawn on an account established with one of $5 million worth of stolen, forged or doctored checks that investigators said the conspiracy attempted to cash over three years.

The five-time Olympic gold medalist has not been charged with any wrongdoing, and prosecutors initially took pains to keep her name out of the case.

In an indictment unsealed in April she was referred to as a “close associate of Timothy Montgomery.”

Her name subsequently surfaced in court filings in late June by one of the defense attorneys.

None of those court records reveal whether Jones was aware of the source of the money or was personally involved in collecting the payment.

A photocopy of the $25,000 check is signed with her name.

That check was deposited but never cleared, meaning Jones never received the money.

Federal prosecutors declined to discuss Jones’ role in the case, noting that she has not been charged.

Jones’ coach, 1976 Olympic gold medalist Steven Riddick, was arrested in February on charges that he helped a ring of New York con artists convert bogus checks into cash by laundering them through accounts he controlled.

Prosecutors charged Montgomery, the former 100-meter world record holder, with depositing three of the bad checks and taking a $20,000 commission for passing some funds back to the conspirators.

TENNIS

Gimelstob Reaches Newport Quarterfinals

Eighth-seeded Justin Gimelstob defeated Wayne Arthurs, 6-3, 7-6 (1), to advance to the quarterfinals at the Hall of Fame Championships at Newport, R.I., in a match delayed by rain a day earlier.

Two other matches delayed by rain Wednesday were completed on Thursday -- Kristian Pless beat Paul Capdeville, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and Alex Bogdanovic defeated George Bastl, 6-1, 7-6 (6).

Top-seeded Andy Murray was leading Sam Querrey, 5-3, in the first set and serving for the set when play was halted because of rain.

Second-seeded Gaston Gaudio defeated Christophe Rochus, 6-0, 6-4, in the second round of the Swiss Open at Gstaad. He will play Richard Gasquet, who beat Robin Vik, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals. Because of rain, only one other match was completed -- Andrei Pavel upset eighth-seeded Max Mirnyi, 6-2, 6-4.

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Second-seeded Tommy Robredo and Evgeny Korolev won second-round matches to set up a quarterfinal meeting in the Swedish Open at Bastad. Robredo beat Alexander Waske, 6-3, 6-1, and Korolev beat Luis Horna, 6-2, 6-3.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Petrino Signs 10-Year Deal With Louisville

Louisville Coach Bobby Petrino signed a new 10-year contract that will earn him $1.6 million each year plus bonuses. The contract calls for Petrino to receive $1-million bonuses for every three years he stays with the team beginning in 2007. Petrino is 29-8 in three seasons with the Cardinals, who went 9-3 last season, losing to Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl.

Under the new contract, he would earn a $200,000 bonus for playing in one of the four BCS games and $100,000 for winning the national championship.

HOCKEY

Buffalo Goalie Biron Accepts Qualifying Offer

Buffalo goaltender Martin Biron accepted the team’s one-year qualifying offer. He is the Sabres’ only goaltender under contract and will be paid $2.1 million this season.

He had a 21-8 record last season.

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The Ducks signed goaltender Michael Leighton to a one-year contract. Leighton, 8-21-10 record in 43 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, had a 15-22-1 record and 3.21 goals-against average for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League last season.... The Kings signed forward Raitis Ivanans to a one-year contract. Ivanans, 6-4, 263, played four games with the Montreal Canadiens last season and had 120 penalty minutes in 43 games with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs.

-- Eric Stephens

MISCELLANY

USC’s Galen Center Opening Is Delayed

The opening of USC’s new arena, the Galen Center, has been pushed back again and is now set for Oct. 9.

Originally scheduled to be finished in August and then September, the arena’s completion has been delayed about six weeks by a steelworkers strike, said Carol Dougherty, a senior associate athletic director.

The first sporting event scheduled for the arena is a women’s volleyball match between USC and Stanford on Oct. 12. All home volleyball matches preceding that date will be held at the Lyon Center.

-- Ben Bolch

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The arraignment of former USC defensive end Frostee Rucker was pushed to Aug. 11, giving attorneys time to research discovery evidence.

Rucker was charged with two misdemeanor counts of spousal battery and two misdemeanor counts of vandalism in connection with an alleged altercation last August.

-- Jonathan Abrams

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UCLA golfer Jane Park will forgo her remaining three years of eligibility and turn professional after the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Aug. 7-13, her father, Frank, said. Park, who finished the season ranked No. 6 in the nation, tied for 10th at the U.S. Women’s Open.

-- Peter Yoon

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Larsen Jensen and Adrienne Binder won the 800-meter freestyle races at the Janet Evans Invitational at USC.