Cycling
USADA chief says Armstrong has evidence against UCI
PARIS – The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency wants Lance Armstrong to come forward with information about his doping operation and the alleged complicity of cycling’s governing body.
Travis Tygart appeared at a French government hearing in Paris on Thursday to discuss ways to improve the fight against doping.
After the USADA’S scathing report on systematic doping by Armstrong and his teams, he was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from elite sports for life.
Cycling’s ruling body has been accused of covering up suspicious samples from Armstrong, accepting financial donations from him and helping him avoid detection in doping tests.
During the French Senate hearing, Tygart said he had “evidence of the UCI’s involvement in this affair,” and Armstrong could hold the key to revealing the extent of that involvement.
Navardauskas wins Stage 3; Froome leads Romandie
GRANGES, Switzerland – Ramunas Navardauskas of Lithuania sprinted to his first individual stage win at the Tour of Romandie on Thursday, and Chris Froome of Britain maintained the overall lead.
The 25-year-old Garmin Sharp rider won the 118.15-mile stage in 4 hours, 51 minutes, 49 seconds.
Froome retained the lead he’s held throughout the six-day race through Switzerland.
USA Pro Cycling Challenge will kick off in Aspen
DENVER – The 2013 USA Pro Challenge will kick off Aug. 19 in Aspen and Snowmass Village, then pass through six more Colorado cities before its finale in Denver on Aug. 25.
Organizers of the professional cycling stage race announced the route Thursday.
The second stage from Aspen to Breckenridge will have riders climbing Independence Pass. The next day, they will ascend Rabbit Ears Pass as they head from Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs. In Stage 4, they go from Steamboat Springs to Beaver Creek. Stage 5 will feature an individual time trial in Vail.
In Stage 6, Loveland and Fort Collins will join the race for the first time.
The race again will wrap up in Denver, with cyclists riding in LoDo, City Park and past Civic Center Park.
MLB
Selig won’t interrupt season for Olympic consideration
NEW YORK – Major League Baseball won’t change its schedule to boost the sport’s chances of getting back into the Olympics.
Baseball was an Olympic medal sport from 1992 to 2008, then was dropped for last year’s London Games. In an effort to boost the chance of readmission for 2020, the international baseball and softball federations are merging.
The IOC board will meet next month to select one or more sports for consideration by September’s IOC general assembly.
Mantle’s ‘brand new’ 1960 contract to be auctioned
NEW YORK – The original contract signed by Mickey Mantle for the 1960 season will be auctioned off, and proceeds from the sale will be donated to a New Jersey relief fund for Hurricane Sandy.
Danny Mantle, the son of the Yankees’ Hall of Fame outfielder said his mom deserves all the credit for keeping the contract along with other artifacts and that it looks “brand new.”
Soccer
MLS hopes to announce NYC stadium within 6 weeks
NEW YORK – Major League Soccer hopes to announce plans in four to six weeks for a stadium in Queens for a 20th team.
The league and New York City have been involved in negotiations to build a stadium on a 10-acre site in the Flushing Meadows park. A team there would start play in 2016 and be regional rivals of the New York Red Bulls, who play in Harrison, N.J.
MLS is asking for a $100-million expansion fee.
Associated Press
