JUDO

NO PENALTY FOR IRAN’S MIRESMAEILI International judo officials won’t penalize a two-time champion from Iran who reportedly said he wouldn’t fight an Israeli opponent, then showed up overweight for the bout. Arash Miresmaeili failed to meet the weight requirement for a bout with Israel’s Ehud Vaks and was disqualified.

The International Judo Federation investigated and concluded yesterday that he didn’t miss his weight to avoid the bout. The federation has no rule for penalizing an overweight athlete.

Iran does not recognize Israel and bans any contact with the Jewish state.

Miresmaeili carried the Iranian flag at the opening ceremonies in Athens and was considered a favorite to win Iran’s first gold medal in judo.

ANNO WINS GOLD Noriko Anno won the 78kg class in judo, giving Japan its sixth gold medal in 12 judo classes with one day of competition remaining.

One of Japan’s surest hopes for a gold lost early in the men’s 100kg division. Ihar Makarau of Belarus beat Jang Sung-ho of South Korea to win the gold medal in the 100-kg class after defending Olympic champion and three-time world champion Kosei Inoue lost in the quarterfinals, his first defeat in major international competition in four years.

TENNIS

NAVRATILOVA ELIMINATED, FISH MOVES ON Martina Navratilova’s long, illustrious career will end without an Olympic medal.

Third-seeded Navratilova and Lisa Raymond lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 yesterday to fifth-seeded Shinobu Asagoe and Ai Sugiyama of Japan in the women’s doubles quarterfinals, one step shy of the medal round.

Asagoe and Sugiyama will face no. 2 Conchita Martinez and Virgina Ruano Pascual of Spain in the semifinals. No. 8 Li Ting and Sun Tian Tian of China play no. 7 Paola Suarez and Patricia Tarabini of Argentina.

In singles play, American Mardy Fish beat Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-4, while Taylor Dent was a 6-4, 6-1 winner against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, who stunned no. 1 Roger Federer.

SOFTBALL

FOURTH STRAIGHT MERCY-RULE WIN FOR THE U.S. Lisa Fernandez allowed just one hit as the Americans made quick work of Greece 7-0 yesterday, posting their sixth straight shutout and fourth shortened by the “run-ahead rule” enforced to save teams from embarrassment.

Teams are batting just .070 against the U.S. four-woman rotation, and with a matchup against Taiwan left to go in the preliminary round today, the Americans have outscored opponents 38-0.

WEIGHTLIFTING

FIVE WEIGHTLIFTERS SUSPENDED FOR STEROIDS Five weightlifters were suspended for failing drug tests taken before the Olympics, including two disqualified as they were about to walk to the lifting stand. All were caught using steroids.

The International Weightlifting Federation said the suspended lifters were Wafa Ammouri of Morocco, Zoltan Kecskes of Hungary, Viktor Chislean of Moldova, Pratima Kumari Na of India, and Sule Sahbaz of Turkey. Another, identified by Indian Olympic officials as Sanamacha Chanu, was caught by International Olympic Committee testing.

VOLLEYBALL

RUSSIANS DROP U.S., BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA REMAIN UNBEATEN

Stanislav Dineykin had 20 kills and three blocks to lead the Russians to a four-set victory over the Americans, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25-23. After opening with a five-set loss to the Netherlands, Russia has won two straight. The Americans fell to 1-2.

Brazil remained the only unbeaten team in Pool B with a four-set victory over the Netherlands. Italy, bouncing back from a five-set loss to Brazil, stayed right behind with a sweep over Australia.

In Pool A, Argentina is 3-0 after handing host Greece its first loss. France picked up its first win by beating Poland in three sets, and defending gold medalist Serbia-Montenegro swept Tunisia.

ARCHERY

GALIAZZO TAKES HOME ITALY’S FIRST ARCHERY GOLD Marco Galiazzo won the gold medal in archery yesterday, becoming Italy’s first Olympic champion in the sport. Japan’s Hiroshi Yamamoto won the silver and 17-year old Tim Cuddihy of Australia took the bronze. Cuddihy set a 36-arrow record of 340 over three rounds on his way to the medal.

It was a surprise victory for the 21-year-old Galiazzo, who finished 49th at last year’s world championships. He defeated Yamamoto 111-109.

BASKETBALL

ARGENTINA DOMINATES YAO, CHINA Argentina used its press and passing to negate Yao Ming’s size, earning an 82-57 victory over China. Forcing turnover after turnover with its full court press and then moving the ball around quickly, Argentina made sure the 7-foot-5 Yao was never a factor.

Both teams came into the matchup with 1-1 records, and the loss put China into a must-win situation for a chance to reach the quarterfinals.

Elsewhere, New Zealand rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat Serbia-Montenegro, 90-87. Spain clinched a berth in the quarterfinals by beating Italy, 71-63. Daniel Santiago blocked Carlos Almeida’s 3-point attempt as time expired to help Puerto Rico hold off Angola, 83-80.

Lithuania (3-0) became the first team from Group B to clinch a quarterfinal berth with a 98-76 win over Greece.

BADMINTON

CHINA TAKES FIRST TWO MEDALS China won the first two gold medals in badminton, with world champion Zhang Ning beating Dutchwoman Mia Audina 8-11, 11-6, 11-7 in the singles final.

China also flaunted its dominance of the sport in mixed doubles, with Zhang Jun and Gao Ling edging the British pair of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms 15-1, 12-15, 15-12 in the final.

The bronze medal in the mixed doubles went to Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager, who beat compatriots Jonas Rasmussen and Rikke Olsen 15-5, 15-5. China also won bronze in the singles, with Zhou Mi defeating fellow Chinese Gong Ruina 11-2, 8-11, 11-6.

BOXING

WARD BEATS RUSSO, ADVANCES TO QUARTERS U.S. medal prospect Andre Ward beat Italy’s Clemente Russo 17-9 to advance to the quarterfinals as the Americans finished 6-1 in preliminaries. The Americans sent eight fighters into the second round, with two advancing on byes.