Ricky Williams tests positive again

Former NFL rushing champion Ricky Williams tested positive again for marijuana last month, which will delay his return to the league until at least September, a person familiar with the case said Friday.

Williams sought to end a one-year drug suspension last month when he asked to rejoin the Miami Dolphins. But after the positive drug test, clinicians in the NFL’s substance abuse program advised Commissioner Roger Goodell to delay reinstatement.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the testing program. The Dolphins and the NFL declined comment.

Williams, who turns 30 on May 21, has played only 12 games since 2003. Before his latest setback, new Miami Coach Cam Cameron repeatedly declined to say whether he would welcome Williams back.

Williams’ latest positive test first was reported by ESPN.com. The NFL suspended Williams in April 2006 after he violated the league’s drug policy for the fourth time.

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Adam “Pacman” Jones met in New York with Goodell, the man who suspended him from the NFL for the 2007 season for conduct detrimental to the league.

The Tennessee Titans cornerback appealed for leniency during the meeting. Goodell went into the hearing knowing Nashville police ticketed Jones for speeding four days earlier.

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MOTOR RACING

Hamlin takes Busch race at Darlington

For the second consecutive year, Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Busch Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. Hamlin worked his way through a record-tying 10 caution periods in a Chevrolet. Mark Martin, also driving a Chevrolet, finished second. Hamlin won from the pole for the second straight year.

Clint Bowyer’s fast lap at 164.987 mph in a Chevrolet earned him the top starting position -- his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series pole -- for tonight’s Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington Raceway. Two-time defending race champion Greg Biffle was second at 164.878 mph in a Ford.

Danica Patrick’s 226.358 mph was the third-fastest practice lap of the week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

That makes her the most likely of the three women hoping to make the 33-car Indy 500 field to earn one of 11 spots available today in the first of four qualifying sessions.

Sarah Fisher, who’s best lap was 14th, will probably make the field Sunday. Rookie Milka Dunno has been among the slowest all week. She may not make the starting grid until next weekend.

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TENNIS

Nadal wins to match McEnroe’s record

Second-seeded Rafael Nadal beat fifth-seeded Novak Djokovic, 6-2, 6-3, in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters for his 75th consecutive win on clay, matching John McEnroe’s streak for most victories on one surface.

McEnroe, who watched Nadal’s win from a courtside seat, had a 75-match winning streak on indoor carpet between September 1983 and April 1985.

Nadal can break the record in today’s semifinals against fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko, who rallied to beat Tommy Robredo, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Julia Vakulenko overcame a left foot injury to beat two top-10 players -- including second-seeded Amelie Mauresmo -- and reach the semifinals of the German Open at Berlin.

Vakulenko, down a set when her match with Mauresmo was suspended Thursday because of rain, completed a 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over the third-ranked Mauresmo to advance to the quarterfinals.

A few hours later, she beat eighth-seeded and 10th-ranked Dinara Safina, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Defending champion Pepperdine defeated Penn State, 4-1, at USC’s Marks Stadium in the first round of the NCAA men’s championships.

The 20th-ranked Waves (23-7) will next play 12th-seeded USC (21-2), which beat UC Santa Barbara, 4-0.

Ninth-seeded UCLA defeated Nevada Las Vegas, 4-0, at the L.A. Tennis Center in its first-round match. The Bruins (20-3) will next play Texas Tech (14-9), which beat Virginia Commonwealth, 4-1.

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GOLF

Lee shoots 68 to keep her lead

Sarah Lee shot a bogey-free, three-under-par 68 to take a two-shot lead over Becky Morgan halfway through the LPGA’s Michelob Ultra Open at Williamsburg, Va. She is at 11-under 131 after two rounds.

Morgan had one bogey -- from a bunker on the par-four 14th -- but followed that with four birdies in five holes and shot a 65. Amy Hung is four back after a 68.

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PASSINGS

Charley Ane, 76, former USC tackle

Charley Ane, a star tackle for USC in the early 1950s, died Wednesday in Honolulu of pneumonia following a long illness. He was 76. Story in Section B.