CYCLING

LAB ERROR ALLOWS HAMILTON TO KEEP GOLD

Helped by a laboratory’s blunder, Tyler Hamilton will be allowed to keep his Olympic cycling gold medal.

The International Olympic Committee dropped its investigation yesterday into a blood test from the Summer Games that showed Hamilton used a transfusion to boost his endurance. The decision was made only because the Athens lab mistakenly put his backup sample in a deep freeze – not because the IOC believes he was clean.

Hamilton, who declared he is “100% innocent,” tested positive for blood doping on August 19 after his time-trial victory in Athens. But the finding could not be confirmed because there were not enough intact red blood cells in the second sample, the IOC said. An athlete is considered guilty of doping only when both samples from a drug test come back positive.

Although Hamilton’s gold medal is safe, he is not completely in the clear. Both blood samples taken from Hamilton at the Spanish Vuelta on September 11 came back positive, his Swiss racing team Phonak said. The tests allegedly showed evidence of a transfusion with blood from another person. Blood transfusions can boost endurance by pumping oxygen-rich red blood cells to the muscles.

It’s up to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the International Cycling Union to decide whether to take action against Hamilton for the positive tests in Spain. If found guilty of blood doping, the 33-year-old cyclist could face a two-year ban.

DALLAS COMPANY WITHHOLDS ARMSTRONG BONUS

The company that owes Lance Armstrong $5 million for winning a record sixth straight Tour de France is withholding payment of the bonus, citing allegations in a French book that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

SCA Promotions Inc. points to doping allegations contained in “L.A. Confidential, the Secrets of Lance Armstrong,” published in June by La Martiniere. Armstrong has denounced the book’s claims as “absolutely untrue” and launched defamation lawsuits against the publisher and authors.

Chris Compton, an attorney for SCA, said the company wants to see Armstrong’s medical records before releasing the money.

BASEBALL

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MUM ON EXPOS

Major league baseball’s executive council met for three hours yesterday but made no formal recommendation on whether the Montreal Expos should move to Washington next season.

Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos, a member of the eight-owner council, appears to be the chief obstacle to a move. Angelos has said that having a team about 40 miles from Baltimore would take away fans and revenue from his franchise.

Downtown Washington appears to be the favorite to land the Expos, who were bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season. Washington’s bid group met for 11 1 /2 hours last week with members of baseball’s relocation committee and went over intricate details what a move would entail.

BASKETBALL

RODMAN WORKS OUT WITH NUGGETS

Dennis Rodman is thinking about a comeback, and the Denver Nuggets are giving him a shot.

The 43-year-old former NBA rebounding champion briefly participated in a pickup game at the Nuggets facility earlier this week but had to cut the workout short because of an ingrown toenail.

GM Kiki Vandeweghe told Rodman he was welcome to return once the injury heals. Rodman hasn’t played in the NBA since the 1999-00 season.

Vandeweghe called Rodman’s workout “informal.”

– Associated Press