THE DAY IN SPORTS

The IOC is still uncovering drug cheats eight months after the Beijing Olympics ended.

The International Olympic Committee, staying true to its pledge to fight doping, said Tuesday that six athletes have been nabbed by retesting their blood samples for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-boosting hormone EPO.

A person familiar with the results told the Associated Press the latest tests caught three track and field athletes, two cyclists and one weightlifter. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the names haven’t been released by the IOC, said a male track and field athlete who won only one gold medal was one of the athletes. The other medalist was in cycling.

The IOC did not identify the athletes or sports involved.

The Italian Olympic Committee said one of the six was an Italian athlete, though it declined to name him. The Italian news agency ANSA identified him as cyclist Davide Rebellin, silver medalist in the road race.

U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said the federation hadn’t received notification from the IOC of any adverse findings involving a U.S. athlete.

PRO FOOTBALL

Cardinals release James, others

The Arizona Cardinals granted running back Edgerrin James’ wish to be released and cut two others who played significant roles in the team’s run to the Super Bowl.

While James’ move was anticipated, the release of cornerback Rod Hood and defensive end Travis LaBoy was not.

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San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles has signed the $6,621,000 contract he was tendered as the team’s franchise player. Sproles had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent before the Chargers tagged him as their franchise player. . . . Brett Favre has been released from the reserve-retired list by the New York Jets, making the three-time MVP quarterback free to sign with any team if he decides to again come out of retirement.

SOCCER

No fans for Mexico games

All nine Mexican first-division games this weekend will be played behind closed doors, a move aimed at stemming the spread of swine flu.

Three games last weekend were played without fans -- matches around the capital -- but the Mexican Football Federation said it was closing off all games with the outbreak continuing to spread.

“This decision was made . . . in full awareness of the health emergency confronting Mexico,” the federation said.

TENNIS

Djokovic wins in Rome

Novak Djokovic overcame a lapse midway through the first set and started the defense of his Rome Masters title by beating Albert Montanes, 7-6 (5), 6-0.

Elsewhere, Andreas Seppi eliminated Sam Querrey, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, and 28th-ranked Mardy Fish, the last American in the draw, defeated Igor Andreev, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (2).

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Dinara Safina turned her first match as No. 1 in the world into a rout, overwhelming Sara Errani, 6-0, 6-1, to reach the second round of the Porsche Grand Prix at Stuttgart, Germany. . . . Guillermo Coria, a French Open finalist in 2004, has retired from the sport. Coria is 27.

HOCKEY

NHL bails out Coyotes

The NHL has loaned an unknown amount of money to the Phoenix Coyotes for payroll and rent payments.

The Arizona Republic reported on its website that if the team fails to pay its debt, the league can take it over, according to financial records filed with Maricopa County Recorder’s Office.

ETC.

No-hitter streak ends at four

A Florida high school pitcher came up short in his bid to throw a fifth straight no-hit game.

Mitchell High ace Patrick Schuster had put together a string of four no-hitters and had gotten through the first two innings Tuesday before allowing a double to Gaither High’s Drew Doty at a high school field in Clearwater.

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Lance Armstrong will compete in the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico after all, the seven-time Tour de France champion’s first race since breaking his collarbone in a crash last month. . . . . Yulia Yefimova set a world record in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke, 30.23 seconds, at the Russian swimming championships.

PASSINGS

Sportswriter Bob Oates, 93

Bob Oates, a longtime sportswriter for The Times who covered 39 consecutive Super Bowls, died Monday at his Los Angeles home. He was 93. Page A26