Report: Marion Jones cleared of doping
NEW YORK, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Five-time Olympic medalist Marion Jones has been cleared of using the blood-boosting drug EPO, The New York Times reported.
Jones failed a preliminary drug test during the U.S. national championships in June. Citing a statement issued Wednesday night by Jones' attorney, the newspaper said a backup analysis of a urine sample tested negative.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency notified Jones of the result, her attorney said, but the Times said the result could not be independently confirmed.
"I am absolutely ecstatic," Jones said in a prepared statement. "I have always maintained that I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I am pleased that a scientific process has now demonstrated that fact. I am anxious to get back on the track."
Jones, who could have faced a 2-year ban from U.S. Track and Field, has consistently denied using performance-enhancing drugs. She has been under pressure from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in connection with the steroid scandal involving the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.
Jones won gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter events at the Sydney Games in 2002. She was also part of the U.S. team that took gold in the 4x400-meter relay that year, and she won bronze medals in the long jump and the 4x100-meter relay.
Star-studded U.S. Open women semis
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Three of the four women in Friday's U.S. Open semifinal matches, Amelie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin-Hardenne, were all once ranked No.1.
Mauresmo, the world's top-ranked women's tennis star, battles Sharapova while Henin-Hardenne, a former No. 1, takes on Jelena Jankovic, the tournament's 19th seed.
Mauresmo, 27, has never lost to Sharapova in three matches and beat the 19-year-old Russian in the semis at Wimbledon in July.
Sharapova reached the semifinals at the 2005 U.S. Open.
Henin-Hardenne won the tournament in 2003 and is the current French Open champ. The semifinal will be the first in a major tournament for the 21-year-old Jankovic.
Ferrari's Schumacher reportedly to retire
MONZA, Italy, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Michael Schumacher of Ferrari plans to retire from Formula One racing at the end of this season, a German magazine reports.
The magazine Bild said that Schumacher was expected to make the announcement Sunday after the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Flavio Briatore, manager of the Renault team, told the Italian news agency ANSA he expects Schumacher to step down.
"When you're 37, the years weigh heavily," Briatore said. "He's not the same as he was four or five years ago. He wouldn't have made certain mistakes before."
Schumacher is 12 points behind Fernando Alonso with four Formula One races remaining in the season.
Foley, shot by cop, remains silent
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley is refusing to talk with investigators trying to determine why an off-duty officer shot him.
"He chose not to speak to us," Sheriff's homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos told the San Diego Union Tribune.
Foley, 30, was shot three times -- in his hand, upper thigh and lower inner thigh -- near his home in Poway, Calif., following an altercation with Aaron Mansker, a Coronado, Calif., policeman who was not in uniform, the Union Tribune said.
Mansker said he had pursued Foley for suspected driving under the influence, the newspaper reported.
