Graham convicted on only one count

A jury in San Francisco found track coach Trevor Graham guilty on Thursday of one count of lying to federal agents investigating the BALCO doping scandal.

The jury could not reach a verdict on two other counts against the former coach of Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Justin Gatlin, with at least one juror having serious doubts about the credibility of the prosecution’s star witness. It marked the first significant setback at trial for the federal government in its nearly five-year investigation stemming from the BALCO doping scandal.

Graham’s court-appointed attorney, William Keane, said he would likely seek a judgment for acquittal in spite of the jury’s guilty verdict.

Graham was on trial for allegedly lying to federal agents in 2004 about his relationship with former Mexican athlete Angel Heredia.

Heredia testified at the trial he sold performance-enhancing drugs to Graham and athletes coached by him. The maximum sentence for Graham’s conviction is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A typical sentence for a first-time offender is less than one year. Graham is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 5.

SOCCER

FIFA lifts international ban against Iraq

Soccer’s governing body lifted its international ban on Iraq to keep alive the World Cup qualifying hopes of the team. Iraq was suspended by FIFA on Tuesday after Iraq’s government dissolved the national Olympic Committee and all sports federations. FIFA said the Iraqi move amounted to political interference into the autonomy of the sports organizations.

The ban was provisionally lifted after FIFA received a letter from an Iraqi Cabinet official saying the Iraqi soccer federation had been “excluded” from the decree.

Christian Benitez scored one goal and set up another to rally Santos to a 2-1 victory over Cruz Azul in the first leg of Mexico’s Clausura championship finals in Mexico City.

GOLF

Goggin takes one-shot lead at the Memorial

Mathew Goggin needed only nine putts over his final nine holes on his way to a seven-under par 65 and a one-shot lead over Jerry Kelly and two-time champion Kenny Perry at the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio.

Goggin holed a bunker shot for birdie on the par-three fourth, then ended his round with a 12-footer for par from off the green, giving him only 22 putts for his round.

Annika Sorenstam’s even-par 72 left her seven shots behind co-leaders Karrie Webb and In-Kyung Kim, and tied for 60th at the Ginn Tribute in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Kyle Stanley shot a four-under 68, helping Clemson to a one-stroke lead over UCLA at the halfway point of the NCAA championship at West Lafayette, Ind.

USC dropped to third with a combined score of 591, one stroke behind the Bruins and two behind Clemson.

First-round leader Kevin Chappell of UCLA shot a 73 and fell to a fourth-place tie with Georgia’s Hudson Swafford at 142. USC freshman Tim Sluiter was at 143 for sixth place.

JURISPRUDENCE

Santa Anita files lawsuit against Cushion Track

Santa Anita has filed a federal suit against Cushion Track Footing, seeking restitution for the troubled synthetic racing surface that led to the cancellation of 11 live racing dates during its winter-spring meet.

Santa Anita is seeking $5.225 million to cover the original cost of the track, another $2.2 million in repair costs and any additional damages that would be determined in a jury trial.

-- Larry Stewart

The personal doctor to a pro wrestler who killed himself, his wife and their 7-year-old son last year was charged in a new 175-count federal indictment with conspiracy and improperly dispensing drugs.

The new indictment against Phil Astin replaces a seven-count indictment last July and involves 17 additional patients. Astin was a doctor for wrestler Chris Benoit. Authorities have said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks for a year leading up to the killings.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Three Nevada players are facing DUI charges

Three Nevada players were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence over the Memorial Day weekend, including starting tight end Mike McCoy.

Kenny Viser, a sophomore defensive back, and Rocco Bene, a senior wide receiver and special teams player, also were charged with DUI in separate incidents.

West Virginia University’s $4-million lawsuit against former coach Rich Rodriguez is headed for mediation, with the goal of resolving the dispute by Aug. 1. West Virginia attorney Jeff Wakefield says Judge Robert Stone’s order is standard, and he thinks it’s unlikely mediation will help.

HOCKEY

Vancouver defenseman Bourdon killed in accident

Luc Bourdon, a promising rookie defenseman with the Vancouver Canucks, was killed when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer in a crash near his hometown of Shippagan, New Brunswick. He was 21.

The Kings will play the St. Louis Blues in an exhibition game at the new Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 22.

MISCELLANY

Bruins defeat Wildcats in opening round

Anjelica Selden struck out nine and tossed a three-hitter to lead UCLA to a 1-0 victory over two-time defending national champion Arizona in the opening round of the women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.

Anschutz Entertainment Group CEO Tim Leiweke was named sports executive of the year by Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily.

-- Sam Farmer

A court spokesman confirmed that Arizona basketball Coach Lute Olson and his second wife, Christine Olson, have reached a divorce settlement.