Sports briefs for Sept. 22, 2005

Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005 | 9:30 a.m.

Panthers doctor indicted for steroids

A doctor who was accused in a television report of writing illegal steroid prescriptions for three former Carolina Panthers players has been indicted on federal charges.

James M. Shortt was charged with 29 counts of distributing steroids and human growth hormones as well as a conspiracy charge. The indictment did not specify who received the drugs.

A CBS News report in March identified center Jeff Mitchell, tackle Todd Steussie and punter Todd Sauerbrun as having filled steroid prescriptions written by Shortt.

Leaders call for suspension of lab

Two prominent sports leaders have asked the World Anti-Doping Agency to suspend a French laboratory and investigate who leaked documents leading to a report that Lance Armstrong used banned substances during the 1999 Tour de France.

Denis Oswald, president of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), and Sergei Bubka, IOC athlete's commission chief, made the request in a joint letter, the French sports daily L'Equipe reported.

In the letter to WADA's executive committee in Montreal, they accused the Chatenay-Malabry laboratory of violating "confidentiality regulations" and called for an investigation to identify who handed over the documents.

Officials charged with false reporting

Two key New York Racing Association officials were charged with falsely reporting the weight of several prominent jockeys at NYRA's three thoroughbred tracks and defrauding the betting public and the horses' trainers and owners, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said.

An indictment unsealed in Saratoga County Court charges NYRA clerk of the scales Mario Sclafani and assistant clerk of the scales Braulio Baeza with 291 criminal counts, including scheme to defraud, conspiracy, falsifying business records, tampering with a sports contest and grand larceny.

The two are accused of allowing several jockeys, including Jose Santos, who rode Funny Cide to victory in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, to ride even though they were seven to 15 pounds over their announced weight.

John Brocklebank bought the colt out of Susie Do, by Talinum, from Taylor Made Sales Agency, as agent. Wild Wonder, a son of Wild Again, is the sire of Grade II San Vicente Stakes winner Fusaichi Rock Star.

Sharapova advances to quarterfinals

At Beijing, world No. 1 Maria Sharapova beat Israel's Shahar Peer 6-0, 5-7, 6-2 today at the China Open to become the first seeded player to make it through to the quarterfinals.

The top-seeded Sharapova was tested by Peer but persevered in their two-plus hour match.

Serena Williams crashed out of the tournament Wednesday, losing to China's Sun Tiantian, who is ranked No. 129 in the world. Williams, defending China Open champion and the No. 4 seed this year, blamed an existing injury to her left knee for her disappointing performance.

World-class pro barred for steroid use

World-class professional surfer Percy "Neco" Padaratz Jr. has been stripped of his points and banned from competition for the rest of the year after testing positive for steroids, a surfing official said.

Padaratz, 29, tested positive for three types of steroids, according to the official. He failed a random drug test conducted last fall at a competition in France, results of which became available in July.

-- Sun wire services