Cheruiyot needs time for recovery

Chicago Marathon winner Robert Cheruiyot is expected to fully recover after falling and hitting his head Sunday at the finish line, but doctors advised him not to run for at least one month.

The 28-year-old Kenyan sustained a mild concussion, with some bleeding inside his skull, Dr. Wesley Yapor, a Northwestern Memorial Hospital neurosurgeon, said at a news conference Monday in Chicago.

He added that there was less blood on the surface of the brain in each of three successive CT scans. Cheruiyot also had a bruise to his scalp on the back of his head.

Another MRI exam was to be taken later Monday, followed by another CT scan today. After that, it is believed Cheruiyot will be released.

Cheruiyot also won this year’s Boston Marathon. His agent, Federico Rosa, said that after a race Cheruiyot usually trains lightly for about a month. The next major race he planned to enter was the 2007 Boston Marathon.

“He has all the time to recover,” Rosa said.

Rosa added that Cheruiyot still hopes to run in a late-December race in Sao Paulo, Brazil, unless doctors say otherwise.

Rosa again said he wasn’t sure what caused Cheruiyot to slip Sunday. There were decals with the marathon’s logo at the finish line, which race officials pulled off the ground after Cheruiyot’s fall. But Rosa didn’t blame the decals, saying they are common at marathons and he has never seen such a fall before.

Instead, he said the ground was wet from rain and perhaps the fall had something to do with Cheruiyot’s shoes, or that he simply lost his balance.

Cary Pinkowski, the race’s executive director, said officials will study whether the decals played a role and determine whether they will be on the finish line again.

Cheruiyot had sprinted away from fellow Kenyan Daniel Njenga when he appeared to lean back about a step before the finish line and the strip of tape stretched across it. Suddenly, he slipped backward and struck the back of his head.

His momentum carried him across the line, and he won the 26-mile-plus race in 2 hours 7 minutes 35 seconds.

In the immediate aftermath, Cheruiyot had no memory of what took place.

On Monday, though, Rosa said: “He remembers everything now.”

TENNIS

Grosjean is lone Frenchman to move on at Lyon

Sebastien Grosjean defeated countryman Paul-Henri Mathieu, 7-6 (3), 6-3, becoming the only Frenchman to get through the first day of play at the Grand Prix of Lyon in France.

The other French losers were wild card Thierry Ascione, who lost to fifth-seeded Robin Soderling, 6-3, 6-1, and Nicolas Mahut, who fell to Florian Mayer, 7-6 (5) 6-3. In another match, Nicolas Massu beat Kevin Kim, 7-6 (6), 7-5.

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Shahar Peer defeated Marion Bartoli, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in the first round of the Generali Ladies in Linz, Austria. Samantha Stosur of Australia advanced to the second round after Maria Kirilenko retired because of a hip injury while trailing, 6-4, 3-2.

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Jarkko Nieminen defeated Janko Tipsarevic, 7-5, 6-2, in the first round of the St. Petersburg Open in Russia. Lukas Dlouhy rallied to upset eighth-seeded Jurgen Melzer, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

JURISPRUDENCE

Illinois’ McBride suspended after drunk-driving arrest

Illinois guard Rich McBride was suspended for the first four regular- season games after his arrest Sept. 29 on suspicion of driving under the influence near Champaign, Ill.

He will continue to practice with the team and be involved in counseling and community service, Coach Bruce Weber said in a statement. McBride is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 30 on suspicion of driving under the influence and improper traffic lane usage.

“We are disappointed in Rich’s decision making, but most importantly, it’s important that we help Rich,” Weber said. “This has been a difficult but very valuable life lesson for Rich, as well as his teammates, to learn.”

McBride, a starter who averaged 10 points last season, helped the Illini finish second in the Big Ten and advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

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James Harney, the New Jersey state trooper who admitted helping run a betting ring involving several NHL figures, will not be sentenced this week in Mount Laurel, N.J., as originally scheduled.

No reason was given for the delay.

Harney pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy, promoting gambling and official misconduct for running a sports-betting ring. Authorities say he was a partner in the ring with former NHL star and coach Rick Tocchet. The two, along with another man, were charged in February.

HOCKEY

Blues’ McKee expected to sit out at least four weeks

St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay McKee is expected to be sidelined at least four weeks after having surgery Monday on his broken right hand.

McKee was injured in the first period Friday against the Vancouver Canucks when he blocked a shot by Rory Fitzpatrick. It was McKee’s first game of the season after he sat out the first seven because of a knee injury. McKee signed a four-year, $16-million contract with the Blues in July. Last season he led the NHL with 241 blocked shots in 75 games and matched his career high with five goals.

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Minnesota Wild star right wing Marian Gaborik will probably be sidelined for at least 10 more days because of a mild groin strain.

Gaborik was hurt in the third period of Friday’s game at Anaheim and did not play Saturday against San Jose. Gaborik is second on the team with four goals. He also has three assists. He has been skating on a line with fellow Slovakia native Pavol Demitra, acquired in an off-season trade.

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The Carolina Hurricanes activated forward Andrew Ladd from injured reserve and sent forward Dave Gove to their American Hockey League affiliate in Albany, N.Y. Ladd injured his shoulder Oct. 13 at Atlanta and sat out four games.

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Marc-Edouard Vlasic, the San Jose Sharks’ promising 19-year-old defenseman, earned a roster spot with the club.

General Manager Doug Wilson decided to keep Vlasic with the Sharks instead of sending him back to the Quebec Remparts, his junior team for the last three seasons.

Vlasic helped lead Coach Patrick Roy’s team to the Memorial Cup last summer, but the Sharks say he’s ready after playing well in San Jose’s first eight games.

Vlasic scored 73 points for the Remparts last season after the Sharks selected him in the second round of the 2005 draft. He is scoreless in eight NHL games with a minus-one rating, but his statistics don’t reflect the Sharks’ growing confidence in him. The teenager has played in every situation, contributing steady passing and solid hits while playing nearly 20 minutes per game -- third-most among San Jose’s defensemen.