FOOTBALL

CONGRESS CONVENES HEARINGS ON STEROIDS IN NFL

The NFL’s steroids policy is tough, “but it’s not perfect,” the head of a congressional committee said yesterday, adding that he plans to introduce a bill governing drug testing across the spectrum of U.S. sports. Rep. Tom Davis opened the House Government Reform Committee’s second hearing on steroids by saying the NFL had been more cooperative than Major League Baseball was when its drug program was examined by the panel last month. But saying that all sports leagues must “acknowledge that their testing programs need improvement,” the Virginia Republican added that he and ranking Democrat Henry Waxman of California, along with Senator McCain, Republican of Arizona, are working on legislation to create uniform policies for major sports.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Players Association chief executive Gene Upshaw were among 10 witnesses scheduled to appear, including two doctors who supervise the NFL’s testing, and two high school football coaches. Only one former player was invited yesterday: Steve Courson, an NFL offensive lineman from 1978-85 who has admitted using steroids and blames that for a heart condition.

Gary Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency that oversees Olympic drug testing and penalties, knocked the NFL policy for leaving out amphetamines, and he urged the league to adopt blood testing to detect Human Growth Hormone.

JETS’ EVANS CALLS IT QUITS

Jets defensive tackle Josh Evans has retired, deciding to end his nine-year career because of a back injury. The 32-year-old Evans played in just one game in 2004 after undergoing season-ending back surgery. He planned to return for 2005 but was slow to recover and decided to call it quits.

BASKETBALL

COLANGELO APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR OF USA BASKETBALL

Jerry Colangelo, the chairman and CEO of the Phoenix Suns, was selected yesterday to oversee the U.S. men’s national basketball team through the 2008 Olympics and pick the squad for international competitions. Colangelo immediately promised radical changes in an effort to restore America to international prominence in the sport.

The 10-member committee that selected the teams has been disbanded, and Colangelo alone will name the players and coaches. He said the system of a handful of NBA stars gathering for a few weeks prior to the competition will be abandoned and that significant changes in the structure of its men’s team were necessary after it finished sixth at the 2002 world championships, then won only the bronze medal at the Athens Olympics. Colangelo said he “really [likes] the idea of tryouts.”

SOCCER

CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL PLAY 0-0 DRAW IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Chelsea and Liverpool played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal yesterday, with scoring opportunities limited amid a tough midfield battle. Liverpool had lost its three previous games against Chelsea this season – twice by the score of 1-0 in the Premier League and a 3-2 defeat in the finals of the Carling Cup. On Tuesday, AC Milan beat PSV Eindhoven 2-0 in the first leg of their semifinal. The second legs are next week, with the final May 25.

– Associated Press