Jones Won’t Race Again This Season

Track star Marion Jones pulled out of this weekend’s World Cup in Athens and says she won’t race again this season.

The five-time Olympic medalist said her conditioning wasn’t good enough for her to compete at a high level after missing more than a month of competition after her positive test for the banned endurance enhancer EPO. The sprinter was cleared to run again when her second sample tested negative.

“I was in top condition when my season was interrupted more than three weeks ago by the leak of my positive ‘A’ sample,” Jones said in a statement released by attorney Rich Nichols on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Dick Pound, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, defended the doping tests that embroiled Jones and cyclist Floyd Landis in high-profile cases, saying “in the long run, the system works.”

Pound said he had full confidence in EPO tests as well as the testosterone tests that ensnared Tour de France winner Landis. WADA has asked the Los Angeles laboratory that analyzed Jones’ samples to provide the agency with all the documents in the case to determine if there were any mistakes.

The issue will probably be discussed by WADA’s executive committee in Montreal this weekend.

American cyclist Tyler Hamilton faces a new doping investigation, less than two weeks before his two-year suspension for blood doping is lifted.

USA Cycling said it was contacted by UCI, which provided documents on Hamilton’s involvement in a Spanish doping scandal. The sport’s governing body also requested that USA Cycling open disciplinary proceedings against Hamilton.

“As required by our anti-doping regulations, we have forwarded the complete dossier to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and have asked them to adjudicate this case on our behalf,” said Steve Johnson, chief executive of USA Cycling, in a statement.

A hair test that jockey Patrick Valenzuela submitted to as the California Horse Racing Board sought to determine whether he had recently used drugs was negative, CHRB Chairman Richard B. Shapiro said.

But he added that Valenzuela still must provide other documentation before riding again under terms of his provisional license.

Valenzuela, who has a history of substance-abuse problems, recently spent six weeks in a facility that treats patients with mental health and addiction issues.

“We need to get an explanation and understanding of just why he went into the facility,” Shapiro said. “I’m very pleased if, in fact, the test is accurate and he’s negative. We want to make sure someone competing is free of substance abuse and also in good mental health. My concern here is, we need to make sure he or any rider is safe at all times.”

Neil Papiano, Valenzuela’s attorney, said his client should be permitted to ride after passing multiple drug tests.

“You’re negative before the hospital and negative after the hospital,” he said. “What else do you need?”

-- Robyn Norwood

Barry Bonds’ personal trainer has asked a federal appeals court to free him from prison for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the San Francisco Giants slugger.

Greg Anderson, who has appeared five times before two federal grand juries without answering pertinent questions, filed court papers late Wednesday through his attorney, Mark Geragos.

The government has until Sept. 20 to file opposing arguments.

TENNIS

More Jobs for Female and Minority Umpires

The U.S. Tennis Assn. will increase the number of women and minorities working as chair umpires at its tournaments after an investigation into possible discrimination. The agreement was reached in late August but announced by the state attorney general’s office Thursday, days after the U.S. Open.

A Florida judge ordered Venus and Serena Williams to turn over tax returns to prosecutors who claim the documents prove they lied about their father’s involvement in their careers.

Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Winikoff said that portions of the tax returns are relevant to a multimillion-dollar breach of contract lawsuit the sisters and their father, Richard Williams, face for pulling out of a 2001 tournament.

Defending champion Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder won in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals of the Wismilak International at Bali, Indonesia.... Guillermo Garcia-Lopez knocked out top-seeded Dmitry Tursunov, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (3), to move into the quarterfinals of the clay-court BCR Open Romania at Bucharest. He will play eighth-seeded Paul-Henri Mathieu, who beat Victor Crivoi, 6-1, 6-1.

HOCKEY

Blues Sign Free-Agent Right Wing Dvorak

The St. Louis Blues continued their makeover by signing free-agent right winger Radek Dvorak. The 29-year-old Dvorak has 161 goals in a 10-year career. He played for Edmonton last season.

Vancouver matched center Ryan Kesler’s offer sheet and re-signed him, two days after Philadelphia had extended him a $1.9-million offer.... As expected, Philadelphia center Keith Primeau retired, ending a 15-year career after failing to receive clearance to play because of lingering effects from a concussion.

MISCELLANY

U.S. Women Win

Again in Basketball

Tina Thompson scored 19 points and the United States (3-0) beat Russia (2-1), 90-80, to finish the first round of the women’s world basketball championships at Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a perfect record.

In other games, Argentina beat South Korea, 83-64; Spain beat Brazil, 67-66; the Czech Republic beat Taiwan, 93-72; Cuba beat France, 78-73, and Lithuania beat Senegal, 69-57.

UCLA announced it will induct eight athletes into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 6. The 2006 inductees are Carol Bower, rowing; Herb Flam, tennis; Monte Nitzkowski, swimming and water polo; Jonathan Ogden, football and track and field; Annette Salmeen, swimming; Dennis Storer, soccer and rugby; John Vallely, basketball; and Elaine Youngs, volleyball.

In local auto racing scheduled Saturday night, Damion Gardner holds a 23-point lead over Cory Kruseman as the USAC/CRA sprint-car series returns to Perris Auto Speedway on its back-to-school night. Students with a current school ID will get free admission. Irwindale Speedway will have five races, including super late models and super trucks.

In the pure stocks division, Rick Crow of Simi Valley has won six consecutive races and holds a 66-point lead over Harry Michaelian of Lawndale. VRA sprint cars lead a multi-race program at Ventura Raceway, and Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino has a five-race schedule led by the ASA Speed Truck Challenge.

-- Jim Peltz