New York toughens horse steroids policy

New York toughened its steroids policy for racehorses Tuesday, following the lead of the two other states that hold Triple Crown races.

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board said the new rules take effect Jan. 1 at all thoroughbred and standardbred tracks in the state. That includes Belmont Park, home of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown. The new rules set limits for steroids that are permitted.

“We have moved to eliminate anabolic steroid use from the horse racing industry in New York State,” said John Sabini, chairman of the racing and wagering board. “Steroids are no better for four-legged athletes than they are for two.”

GOLF

Ireland’s Harrington is PGA player of year

Irishman Padraig Harrington, who won the British Open and the PGA Championship, became the second European to win the PGA player of the year award. Britain’s Nike Faldo won the award in 1990.

The award, first presented in 1948, is based on a mathematical formula that weighs tournament wins, official money standing and scoring average.

Although there are four events remaining on the PGA Tour, Harrington has accumulated a points tally of 116, which cannot be overtaken by his closest challengers. Tiger Woods, a nine-time winner of the award, is second with 78 points despite not playing since June because of knee surgery.

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Harrington and Jim Furyk shot two-under-par 68s and were tied for the lead after the first round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Tucker’s Town, Bermuda.

In the 36-hole tournament for major winners, Retief Goosen shot 70 and fellow South African Trevor Immelman shot 76 in a strong wind at Mid Ocean Club.

MISCELLANY

Canseco is charged in fertility drug case

Jose Canseco was charged in a San Diego federal court with a misdemeanor offense of trying to bring a fertility drug across the border from Mexico.

The former baseball slugger did not address the court during his initial court appearance, which lasted about five minutes. He was charged with introduction into interstate commerce of a misbranded drug, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

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Rafael Nadal moved within two wins of clinching the year-end No. 1 ranking, defeating Ernests Gulbis, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, to reach the third round of the Madrid Masters.

Next up for Nadal will be 15th-ranked Richard Gasquet, who overcame 23 aces by Mardy Fish to win, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.

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USC guard Jacki Gemelos injured her knee again and the highly touted prep star will miss her third straight season with the Trojans. Gemelos hurt her left knee during a workout Monday, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tear. Previously, she tore the ACL in her right knee twice.

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Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Sebastian Telfair was suspended for three games after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced last month to three years’ probation.

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New York Rangers first-round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov had heart problems and probably should not have been allowed to play in a game in which he collapsed and died, a regional investigator suggested.

Yulia Zhukova said that the 19-year-old Cherepanov, who died Monday while playing for Avangard Omsk in a Continental Hockey League game outside of Moscow, apparently had chronic ischemia -- a medical condition when not enough blood gets to the heart or other organs.

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Paul Beeston returned to the Toronto Blue Jays as interim chief executive officer, and will work with outgoing President Paul Godfrey to hire a successor.