Briefs | Cycling: Lance Armstrong gets approval to start comeback

Cycling

Armstrong cleared for comeback race: Cycling's governing body is relaxing its rules to allow Lance Armstrong to make his comeback at a road race in Australia in January.

The International Cycling Union said the seven-time Tour de France champion can compete in the Jan. 20-25 Tour Down Under, his first race since coming out of retirement after three years.

A strict application of testing rules would not have allowed the 37-year-old Texan to compete until Feb. 1, 2009, six months after he filed paperwork with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

But the UCI said Armstrong could return early because its drug-testing standards have improved since the rule was drawn up four years ago.

The Tour Down Under is the first event on the UCI Pro Tour calendar in 2009 and is likely to be followed by the Tour of California in February.

NHL

Canucks send three down: Veteran Vancouver Canucks forwards Matt Pettinger, Jeff Cowan and Jason Krog were sent down to the American Hockey League after clearing waivers. The Canucks also announced defenseman Lawrence Nycholat will start the season on injured reserve after hurting his back during the final exhibition game Sunday.

The Canucks open the season tonight at home against the Calgary Flames.

Horse racing

Breeders' Cup returning to Churchill Downs in 2010: The Breeders' Cup is heading back to the home of the Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Downs will host the world championships for a seventh time on Nov. 5-6, 2010, the event's first trip to the Louisville, Ky., track since the Cup expanded to a two-day format in 2007.

The 27th Breeders' Cup will feature 14 championship races with a projected $25.5 million in purses available.

Olympics

Officials to retest athletes' samples: The International Olympic Committee said it would retest blood samples collected from athletes at the Beijing Games to check for a new stamina-boosting drug that would most benefit endurance athletes like cyclists and distance runners.

Three stage winners at this year's Tour de France have tested positive for that drug, an anemia-fighting substance called CERA or Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator. It is a new generation of the drug EPO, which is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Tennis

Ivanovic, Mauresmo lose in Moscow: Two former No. 1 players, Ana Ivanovic and Amelie Mauresmo, lost in the second round at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia staved off two match points to upset Ivanovic 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). Mauresmo lost 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4 to second-seeded Dinara Safina, who has reached her seventh straight quarterfinals.

Gonzalez saves five match points in Vienna: Fernando Gonzalez saved five match points before defeating Ernests Gulbis 4-6, 7-6 (13-11), 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the BA Tennis Trophy in Vienna, Austria.

Bjorkman plays 1,000th ATP doubles match: Jonas Bjorkman, 36, played his 1,000th career ATP doubles match, teaming with Kevin Ullyett to defeat Americans Scott Lipsky and David Martin 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals of the Stockholm Open in Sweden.

Germans to appeal: The German Tennis Federation plans to appeal a ruling that cleared the way for the ATP Tour's planned tournament restructuring — a move that would downgrade a Hamburg tournament.

Auto racing

Canadian Formula One race dropped: The Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from next year's Formula One schedule, leaving North America without an event.

College basketball

North Carolina's Ginyard out eight weeks: Senior Marcus Ginyard will miss eight weeks after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot, robbing the Tar Heels of their do-everything swingman who started every game last season.

Appel, Harrison limited after knee surgeries: Stanford center Jayne Appel, an honorable-mention All-American last season, underwent arthroscopic surgery on her left knee last month. Forward Michelle Harrison also is recovering from surgery to repair a meniscus tear in her left knee.

Soccer

Revolution goalie out for season: New England Revolution backup goalie Doug Warren will miss the remainder of the season because of an elbow injury.

Seattle Times news services