Spanish Tour rider tests positive for banned drug

Spanish rider Iban Mayo tested positive for EPO during the final week of the Tour de France, his team said Monday in a statement.

Doping allegations and suspicions have devastated the 2007 Tour, which ended Sunday. Three riders, including former overall leader Michael Rasmussen, and two teams were expelled during the three-week race.

Mayo’s Saunier Duval team was told of the results of the July 24 test by cycling’s governing body and “immediately suspended” Mayo, according to a statement posted its website.

A second test is needed to confirm the initial positive result for Mayo, who finished 16th in cycling’s biggest event.

Spaniard Alberto Contador of the Discovery Channel team won the Tour -- but only after Rasmussen was removed, accused of having lied about his whereabouts before the Tour to evade doping controls. Rasmussen vehemently has denied the accusations.

So too has fan favorite Alexandre Vinokourov, who was tossed along with his Astana team after he tested positive for a banned blood transfusion. Italian rider Cristian Moreni, however, admitted his guilt after a positive test for testosterone got him and his Cofidis team kicked out.

Saunier Duval said it would cancel Mayo’s contract if the initial positive result is confirmed.

Mayo, a noted climber, finished 27 minutes 9 seconds behind Contador.

HORSE RACING

Jockey Santos will retire because of injuries

Six months after breaking his back in a spill at Aqueduct, Jose Santos, who rode Funny Cide to victory in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, called it a career.

“I am going to retire because my back is in real bad shape right now,” Santos said. “With time, definitely it’s going to get better. But my doctor advised me it’s not a good idea to come back. If I have another spill, I’ll probably not be able to walk again.”

Santos’ retirement comes a week before the popular 46-year-old rider is inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame.

Santos, from Concepcion, Chile, was among the nation’s leading jockeys in the 1980s, and leaves the sport with more than 4,000 victories.

Belmont Stakes-winning filly Rags To Riches was declared fit and ready to resume training, with a start in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 18 still a possibility.

Vice Admiral, a 3-year-old gelding who had finished second in seven consecutive races, finally ended the streak Monday by winning the fourth race at Del Mar, a one-mile event for maidens.

SOCCER

Adu arrives in Portugal to begin negotiations

Freddy Adu arrived in Portugal to negotiate personal terms on a move to Benfica from Major League Soccer.

The MLS and Benfica have already agreed on a $2-million transfer fee for the 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who was captain of the U.S. team at the under-20 World Cup this year.

Adu was to hold talks with Benfica officials and undergo a medical test, the club said in a statement.

The UCLA men’s soccer team has been named the preseason No. 1 by College Soccer News.

The Bruins return eight starters from last year’s national finalist squad. UC Santa Barbara was ranked No. 3.

TENNIS

Johannson advances to the second round

Thomas Johannson advanced to the second round of the Legg Mason Classic, beating Santiago Giraldo, 7-6 (7), 6-7 (5), 6-4, at Washington.

Johannson, who won the Australian Open in 2002, will play defending champion Arnaud Clement in the second round.

Second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and third-seeded Emilie Loit won their opening-round matches in straight sets at the Nordic Light Open at Stockholm.

Playing on the hard courts at the world’s oldest Olympic Stadium still in use, Radwanska routed Tatjana Malek, 6-2, 6-1, while Loit beat Andrea Petkovic, 6-4, 6-2.

Mariano Zabaleta defeated Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 7-5, in straight sets in the first round of the Orange Prokom Open at Sopot, Poland.

Matches on the first day of the $580,000 tournament on clay started 30 minutes late because of rain.

MISCELLANY

Stars’ Miettinen wins arbitration hearing

Dallas Stars right winger Antti Miettinen was awarded an $885,000, one-year deal in salary arbitration, and New York Rangers forward Sean Avery had his case heard by an arbitrator.

The 27-year-old Miettinen nearly doubled his salary of $450,000 last season, when he scored 11 goals with 14 assists in 74 games.

A former University of Michigan football player convicted of assaulting a fellow student was sentenced to six months’ probation.

Christian Richards, a 19-year-old reserve defensive back from Pacoima who went to North Hills Monroe High, was also ordered to pay various fees and costs and perform community service. He was convicted of aggravated assault and assault and battery following a nonjury trial July 10.

Presuming that David Beckham will play, ESPN is planning to nationally televise the Galaxy’s game at Toronto on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. PDT.

However, the ESPN telecast will be blacked out in L.A. because FSN West is also televising the game.

Michigan and Notre Dame will be knocking helmets on the football field for another two decades.

The two storied programs agreed to a 20-year contract extension that will have them playing annually through 2031. The series was set to expire after the 2011 season.

Boxer Antwun Echols, a former super-middleweight champion who twice lost to Bernard Hopkins, was shot in the leg while trying to break up a fight in the parking lot of a grocery store at Davenport, Iowa, and was later arrested on alleged drug violations.

Police said Echols sustained a minor wound Sunday night and was taken to a hospital. The suspect fled in a sport utility vehicle.

Echols was charged with possession of crack cocaine and outstanding warrants for child support issues, police said.