Greek hurdler fails drug test
BEIJING, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Record-setting Greek hurdler Fani Halkia tested positive for methyltrienolone, the International Olympic Committee confirmed Monday.
Halkia, the Olympic record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, was to have competed in the event's heats Sunday but was dispatched home when she failed the doping test.
The committee said it had collected a first sample from Halkia Aug. 10 in Japan where the Greek team was training. The committee's medical director was told of the result Saturday and a subsequent sample was taken, which confirmed the positive result.
Halkia, who left the Olympic village after being suspended by her country's Olympic organization, is the 15th Greek athlete to fail a drug test in the last three months.
Fab fillie Genuine Risk dead at 31
UPPERVILLE, Va., Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Genuine Risk, who at 31 was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner, died Monday at Newstead Farms in Virginia.
The daughter of Exclusive Native won the derby in 1980 and went on to finish second in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
"Genuine Risk was an amazing horse with tremendous heart that lived a life befitting a champion," owners Bertram and Diana Firestone said in a written statement. "We are truly blessed that she was a part of our life, and we are deeply saddened by her passing."
The Bloodhorse said Genuine Risk was one of only three fillies to win the derby and was the first to do so since World War I. She went on to win the Eclipse Award that year and was in the money in all of her 14 career races.
She was less successful after racing. She produced only two named foals, neither of which raced.
Wigginton, Santana share NL honor
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Baseball's National League named Houston Astros third baseman Ty Wigginton and New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana its co-players of the week Monday.
For the week ending Aug. 17, Wigginton led the league with a .571 (16-for-28) batting average, a 1.143 slugging percentage and 11 runs driven. He also tied for the league lead with four homers and nine runs scored.
Santana led NL pitchers with one complete game, one shutout and 16 innings pitched while notching two wins. He limited opposing teams to a 1.69 earned run average and recorded 13 strikeouts.
Wigginton had never been accorded the weekly award previously. For Santana, it was the fourth time but his first since joining the National League.
Mora, Vazquez cop AL award
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Baltimore third baseman Melvin Mora's hot bat and Chicago White Sox pitcher Javier Vazquez's untouchable pitches won them AL Player of the Week honors Monday.
For the week ending Aug. 17, Mora batted .563 (18-for-32) with three home runs and 13 RBI. He posted a 1.031 slugging percentage.
It was his second career award, with his first coming back in May 2003.
Vazquez was 2-0 with a 0.56 earned-run average in two starts. Against Kansas City Aug. 12, he struck out 12 Royals for his fourth double-digit strikeout start this year. He then held Oakland to one run in eight innings Sunday.
Arena takes on dual Galaxy role
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Bruce Arena, former U.S. national soccer team coach, was named Monday general manager and head coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Arena, 57, the seventh coach in the Major League Soccer franchise's history, won two MLS Cups when he was coach of D.C. United. He has a 77-51-10 regular-season record as an MLS coach and is 14-5-2 in post-season play.
Despite having David Beckham and Landon Donovan on their roster, the Galaxy face the prospect of missing the playoffs a second year in a row. With a 6-8-6 record with four losses and four ties in their last eight matches, Ruud Gullit resigned as coach a week ago and General Manager Alexi Lalas was fired.
"While it has been a very difficult week, I believe the end result is a very positive step forward for the Galaxy," said Tim Leiweki, team president and chief executive officer said. "Bruce is the best coach for the Galaxy and certainly one of the best coaches in the history of the league."
Arena said he was excited to be taking the job, though he said there is "a lot of work ahead of us."
"My ultimate goal is to win championships and build a club that all of our fans will be proud of," Arena said.
