Tour de France runner-up denies doping allegations

Tour de France runner-up Oscar Pereiro said he will send French authorities documentation of his waiver to take an asthma medication during the race -- then wait for someone to “apologize” to him.

Earlier Thursday, a report in the French newspaper Le Monde said Pereiro twice tested positive for salbutamol during the race, but that the International Cycling Union had granted him a waiver for the asthma medication and was not pursuing sanctions against him. French anti-doping officials, however, said they were not convinced the waiver was medically justified.

“Tomorrow morning -- Friday -- I’ll send a fax with the paperwork requested by the French anti-doping agency and then a certified letter, and once this is cleared up I’ll wait for whoever needs to, to apologize to me,” Pereiro said.

Pereiro could inherit the title if American Floyd Landis is stripped of the crown. A doping test showed Landis had elevated ratios of testosterone to epitestosterone. If Landis’ appeal fails, he could be banned from cycling for two years.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

West Virginia’s Slaton

has surgery on wrist

West Virginia running back Steve Slaton had surgery on his right wrist and will miss spring practice.

Slaton injured the wrist during the 2005 season. A pin was inserted in the wrist during surgery this week, Coach Rich Rodriguez said.

Slaton also hurt his left elbow and wrist in a Nov. 2 loss at Louisville and played sparingly in the Gator Bowl after suffering a deep thigh bruise in practice.

Texas State Coach David Bailiff accepted the head coaching job at Rice, succeeding Todd Graham, who left the Owls for Tulsa days after signing a contract extension.

“We hate the fact that we are losing him, but we want our people to be successful and this is a wonderful opportunity for David. We wish him all the success in the world,” Texas State President Denise M. Trauth said in a news release.

New York Jets defensive backs coach Corwin Brown will be introduced as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator and former Irish player Ron Powlus will be named quarterbacks coach.

Brown will succeed Rick Minter, and Powlus will succeed Peter Vaas.

Rod Broadway was named coach at Grambling State, leaving North Carolina Central to coach the Tigers.

Broadway succeeds Melvin Spears, fired Dec. 18 after a 3-8 season.

BASEBALL

Padres and Wells

appear close to a deal

The San Diego Padres traded counteroffers with David Wells’ agent, hoping to wrap up talks that would make the 43-year-old left-hander the No. 5 starter for his hometown team this coming season.

“I would say it was our best offer and our final offer,” said General Manager Kevin Towers, who would like to have a deal done today.

Craig Wilson, who could contend for a starting job in left field or at first base, agreed to a $2-million, one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves.

Tony Womack and the Washington Nationals agreed to a minor league deal that would pay the veteran infielder $600,000 if he makes the 40-man roster this season.

The Colorado Rockies sold second baseman Luis Gonzalez to the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Central League.

Gonzalez batted .242 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 61 games for the Rockies last season.

The Cleveland Indians and Jason Davis avoided salary arbitration, with the reliever agreeing to a $670,000, one-year contract.

MISCELLANY

Couch in the lead

at PBA Tour event

Jason Couch held a 77-pin lead over Parker Bohn III after round three of the Denny’s PBA Tour at Fountain Bowl in Fountain Valley.

Patrick Allen was third, Dennis Horan Jr. fourth and Mike Scroggins fifth.

Carlos Sainz of Spain won the 12th stage of the Dakar Rally, with the race crossing the southern Mauritanian desert and entering Mali for the first time.

Alexander Wolf won the biathlon World Cup 10-K sprint at Pokljuka, Slovenia.

Guadeloupe and Cuba secured spots in this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Barbaro’s pain medication was reduced and the Kentucky Derby winner continued to improve after surgery Saturday on his left hind hoof.