TRACK AND FIELD

HARRISON VIOLATION LEADS TO LOSS OF U.S. GOLD

The United States was stripped of its 1,600-meter relay gold medal from the 2003 world championships yesterday because of Calvin Harrison’s second doping violation. The gold instead goes to France, with Jamaica getting the silver, and the Bahamas the bronze.

Harrison was found guilty of using the stimulant modafinil at the U.S. championships in June 2003.He had contended that modafinil wasn’t specifically mentioned on the official list of banned substances at the time. As a two-time offender, the 400-meter star was suspended for two years in August this year and dropped from the American team for the Athens games.

BOXING

BARRERA OUTSLUGS MORALES IN CLOSE DECISION

Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera put on another battle for the ages Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with Barrera coming out on top in a wild slugfest that was every bit the equal of the classic battle the two fought four years ago.

Barrera won a majority decision by the slimmest of margins to take the WBC 130-pound title from Morales in the rubber match between the two Mexican warriors. Barrera was favored 115-113 on one card and 115-114 on a second. The third judge had it 114-114.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

SETON HALL SINKS RHODE ISLAND

Kelly Whitney scored eight of his team-high 14 points during a 14-0 Seton Hall run to start the second half as the Pirates pulled away for a 59-49 win over Rhode Island yesterday. Seton Hall (1-1) led 20-15 at halftime, and Whitney hit a jumper, two layups, and a pair of free throws as the Pirates surged ahead 34-15.

Also yesterday, the 11th-ranked Tar Heels got 23 points from Jawad Williams and another 17 from Sean May to beat the USC 97-65. North Carolina (4-1) won the Maui Invitational in convincing fashion last week.

GOLF

COUPLES WINS FIFTH SKINS GAME IN PLAYOFF

Fred Couples capped his amazing run in the Thanksgiving weekend Skins Game tournament, prevailing in four playoff holes over Tiger Woods to claim the final three skins and $340,000, and win his record fifth Skins Game with a total of $640,000.

Couples won all his money yesterday, starting with a birdie putt worth $300,000 and eight skins on the first hole.

Couples, 45, has won a record $3,515,000 and 77 skins in 11 appearances. Woods was second with five skins and $310,000.

After making a sensational Skins Game debut last year, Annika Sorenstam was shut out this time. She and Aussie Adam Scott were eliminated on the first playoff hole. Scott won two skins and $50,000 on Saturday, when the first nine holes were played. No one else collected money on Day 1.

TENNIS

RUSSIAN WOMEN WIN NATION’S FIRST FED CUP

In a fitting end to a season dominated by Russian women, the country won its first Fed Cup title yesterday by edging defending champion France 3-2 when Anastasia Myskina and Vera Zvonareva beat Marion Bartoli and Emilie Loit 7-6 (5), 7-5 in the deciding doubles match.

Russia had lost its four previous Fed Cup finals but was led this time by French Open champion Myskina, who had a hand in each of the host’s three points in the best-of-five final.

The Fed Cup title capped the Russian women’s domination of a year in which they won 15 singles titles, including three majors and the season-ending WTA Championships.

– Associated Press