Melbourne, Australia – Disgraced sprinter Ben Johnson has claimed rival Carl Lewis played a part in a conspiracy to sabotage his drug sample at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Johnson set a world record of 9.79 seconds to win the 100 meters at Seoul but was stripped of his gold medal and world record when he tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol.
The Canadian-born sprinter since has admitted using banned drugs but insists his positive test at Seoul was the result of a conspiracy to discredit him. Johnson said he drank beer with a former U.S. football player – “a family friend” of Lewis’ – in the drug test waiting room at Seoul and that his beer had been tainted with stanozolol.
Asked whether Lewis was involved, Johnson said: “I won’t say too much but … he’s involved.”
With Johnson’s disqualification, Lewis was awarded the gold medal and the world record for his time of 9.92 seconds.
NBA
Stern admits to dropping the ball
Commissioner David Stern acknowledged the league should have sought more input from players before introducing its new game ball.
“Whether or not we did enough prior to it, we’re actually, well, we think this ball has many of the attributes that Spalding says it has,” Stern said. “It’s an improvement in many ways. But if our players are unhappy with it, we have to analyze to the nth degree the cause of their unhappiness.”
Stern said he will address the players’ criticisms with Spalding, the ball manufacturer.
“Everything is on the table,” he said. “I’m not pleased, but I’m realistic. We’ve got to do the right thing here. And, of course, the right thing is to listen to our players. Whether it’s a day late or not, we’re dealing with this.”
Kobe Bryant’s sprained right ankle has improved and the Los Angeles Lakers’ star might play tonight against the New Orleans Hornets.
New Orleans Hornets guard Bobby Jackson will be out for about two weeks with a cracked left rib.
NHL
Blackhawks extend Savard’s contract
The Chicago Blackhawks extended coach Denis Savard’s contract through the 2007-08 season. Savard, a Hall of Fame player who had been an assistant for Chicago, took over as head coach Nov. 27 when Trent Yawney was fired. The Blackhawks are 3-1 since the change.
Dallas Stars center Mike Modano missed practice because of a hip flexor injury and is questionable for tonight’s home game against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Canucks forward Taylor Pyatt will be out two to four weeks with a shoulder injury and defenseman Sami Salo could miss seven to 10 days with a nerve injury in his shoulder.
Fourth-line forward Rick Rypien will also miss six to eight weeks with a partially torn groin muscle.
New York Islanders forward Trent Hunter will be sidelined two to four weeks with a sprained knee.
FOOTNOTES
“Wake Forest guy” Grobe staying put
Wake Forest football coach Jim Grobe reiterated he has no interest in other jobs, including the one at Alabama.
“I’m a Wake Forest guy,” Grobe said. “I think some people like having their names floated all over the place. I’ve been around long enough that it has no appeal for me. I couldn’t be happier.”
Idaho coach Dennis Erickson denied being approached by Arizona State about its head football coaching vacancy, but said he would “probably take a look” if contacted by the Sun Devils to replace the fired Dirk Koetter.
Juergen Klinsmann and the U.S. Soccer Federation are likely to know within a week whether their talks will lead to a deal for him to become coach of the national team.
Reportedly on Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby’s “short list” of candidates to replace fired football coach Walt Harris are Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe, Broncos tight ends coach Tim Brewster, UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker and San Diego coach Jim Harbaugh.
Former U.S. Open champion Ken Venturi was expected to have a full recovery after undergoing heart surgery Friday. Venturi, 76, remained hospitalized in Rancho Mirage, Calif., and a release date wasn’t set.
World Cup ski races scheduled for Dec. 15-16 in Val Gardena, Italy, will go ahead despite a lack of natural snow, the International Ski Federation said.
World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Omar Nino was suspended pending a formal hearing after testing positive for methamphetamine.
