A second test on a urine sample from Diego Maradona confirmed the soccer star took drugs before a league game 10 days ago, the Argentine Football Association said Wednesday. Maradona, 36, is almost certain to receive a lengthy playing ban–the third of his career. If so, it would appear to signal the end of his career.
Track and field: Kenyan middle-distance kings Moses Kiptanui and Daniel Komen failed in their bids to break the 3,000-meter steeplechase and mile world records in Rieti, Italy. Kiptanui won his race in 8:00.54, 18 seconds ahead of his nearest rival but far behind the world best of 7:55.72 set by compatriot Wilson Kipketer last month. Komen won the mile in 3:47.85, well behind Noureddine Morceli’s world record of 3:44.39. Morceli also owns the 1,500-meter record and won the 1,500 Wednesday.
Tennis: Former player Roscoe Tanner pleaded no contest in Hamilton County (Tenn.) Criminal Court to passing a worthless check for more than $10,000. Tanner was given a one-year suspended sentence.
College football: Northwestern linebacker Barry Gardner was named the Big Ten’s defensive player of the week and placekicker Brian Gowins special-teams player of the week. Ohio State quarterback Stanley Jackson received offensive honors.
College basketball: Two of UNLV’s top players were ruled ineligible for part of the season for taking extra benefits from an agent during a trip to Florida. The NCAA’s eligibility staff declared junior forward Kevin Simmons ineligible for the first 14 games and senior center Keon Clark ineligible for the first 11.
Pro basketball: Rod Strickland of the Washington Wizards was released from a Washington jail after his arrest on charges of drunken driving and disorderly conduct. The 31-year-old point guard appeared briefly in court and pleaded innocent. He faces trial Jan. 21.
