Sports briefs for May 19, 2004

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 | 11:04 a.m.

NBA teams to play at Cox Pavilion

Six NBA teams will play their annual summer games in July at UNLV's Cox Pavilion, arena officials said Tuesday.

The Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics will compete in the Summer League "Stars of Tomorrow," under an agreement reached by the Thomas & Mack Center and VSL Properties, a Nevada-based promotions company.

The series will consist of 14 games.

Report: White out

Sprinter Kelli White accepted a two-year drug ban that will keep her from the Athens Olympics, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported today.

The ban was to be announced today by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, two unidentified sources familiar with the case told the newspaper.

White's coach, Remi Korchemny, was one of four men indicted earlier this year on charges of illegally distributing steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to elite professional athletes after an investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

Smarty works out

Smarty Jones returned to the track today for the first time since his record-setting victory in the Preakness, jogging and galloping under restraint at Philadelphia Park with a light rain falling. Smarty Jones, who will attempt to become racing's first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978, will continue training at Philadelphia Park for the next week.

Justine heads to Paris

Justine Henin-Hardenne will play in the French Open after all. The world's No. 1 player said she would defend her title at Roland Garros even though she hasn't fully recovered from a viral infection. The French Open starts Monday, and the Belgian has been trying to get in top shape over the last month.