Sports Briefing
USOC imposes sanctions on USA Track & Field

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In a first step that could lead to the loss of certification for the U.S. governing body for track and field, the U.S. Olympic Committee has imposed financial and other sanctions because of USA Track & Field's refusal to turn over files relating to a U.S. sprinter who tested positive for a banned steroid in 1999 but won gold at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

The USOC has handed down a three-part series of sanctions, including the suspension of about $3 million that flows annually from the USOC to USATF. But the USOC emphasized that the steps are aimed at USATF and its administrators, and not at U.S. athletes as they prepare for the 2004 Olympics that begin Aug. 13 in Athens, Greece.

For the USOC to consider such action against one of its own federations is highly unusual, especially a high-profile sport such as track and field at the onset of an Olympic year.

Bill Martin, the USOC's acting president, said in a Dec. 19 letter to USATF chief executive Craig Masback and president Bill Roe that the USOC's policy-making executive committee, "based on the handling of this matter by both of you ... questions your appreciation and understanding of the damage your inaction continues to cause USATF, the USOC and the entire U.S. Olympic movement."

At stake are gold medals won in Sydney by the athlete who tested positive, Jerome Young, and five other Americans who ran in either the preliminaries or the final round of the 1,600-meter relay, among them Michael Johnson.

Soccer

Manchester United, the English Premier League leader, lost to Wolverhampton 1-0 — its first loss to the Wolves in 23 years.

It was Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand's last game before starting an eight-month suspension for missing a drug test.

Kenny Miller scored in the 68th minute.

In other games, Bolton beat Portsmouth 1-0; Charlton edged Everton 1-0; Southampton defeated Leeds 2-1; Tottenham downed Liverpool 2-1; Middlesbrough and Leicester tied 3-3; and Manchester City and Blackburn played to a 1-all draw.

• Brazilian striker Adriano scored on a header in the 80th minute, sending Parma to a 1-1 tie with Udinese in Serie A, Italy's top league. Lazio and Modena also played to a 1-1 draw.

Horse racing

Two bettors collected $1,120,287 each for hitting the pick six at Aqueduct in Jamaica, N.Y. — the largest payoff for a racing wager in New York history. The winning tickets were bought in Southern California and the Caribbean island of St. Kitts.

The previous high payoff in New York was a pick-six payout of $767,998 at Aqueduct in 1990.

In Grade III races on yesterday's card, 5-year-old Seattle Fitz ($7.40 to win) took the Aqueduct Handicap and 4-year-old filly Austin's Mom ($25) prevailed in the Affectionately Handicap.

• In 1-1/16-mile races for 3-year-olds, St Averil ($6.40) took the Grade II Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., and Second of June ($7.60) triumphed in the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

St Averil, ridden by Tyler Baze and trained by Rafael Becerra, was timed in 1:41-3/5. Harvard Avenue, owned by Emerald Downs president Ron Crockett, finished fifth in the nine-horse field at 26-1.

Second of June won in 1:43.

Swimming

Ed Moses of Burke, Va., surpassed his short-course world record in the 200-meter breaststroke in Berlin, beating the 2002 mark by 0.25 seconds at a World Cup meet.

Moses was timed in 2 minutes, 2.92 seconds.

Rugby

Martin Johnson, a team captain who helped England win its first World Cup title in November, retired after an 11-year career. He is 33.

— Times news services

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