STEROIDS IN SPORTS

CONGRESS BRANDS NBA POLICY ‘PATHETIC’

The NBA’s steroids policy was branded “pathetic” and “a joke” by lawmakers yesterday, and the head of a congressional panel said he will propose a law creating drug-testing standards for the four major professional sports leagues. House Government Reform Committee chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., opened a hearing focusing on the NBA by saying he’ll produce a uniform testing bill next week. Davis promised the legislation he’s drafting with ranking Democrat Henry Waxman of California and Senator John Mc-Cain, R-Ariz., “will have more teeth than other bills introduced.”

Davis didn’t go into specifics, but Waxman said their legislation would follow the Olympic model and would call for a two-year ban for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second offense. Those mirror the penalties in the Drug Free Sports Act, introduced last month by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., chairman of a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee conducting a separate inquiry into steroid use.

Testifying before that panel yesterday, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Stearns’s bill “is not appropriate to be enacted in its present form. At least as it applies to the NFL, we feel that it is unnecessary.”

At the same time, in a nearby hearing room, Davis’s committee called the NBA’s policy “simply inadequate.” Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., called it “a joke.” Stephen Lynch, D-Ma., said: “It is, in my opinion, rather pathetic.”

In Stearns’s hearing, the NFL generally was commended for its drug-testing policy. Tagliabue, though, called the proposed legislation’s punishments “draconian” and said the bill “seems to have disadvantages that outweigh the advantages.”

COLLINS DROPS APPEAL, ACCEPTS FOUR-YEAR BAN

Former world champion sprinter Michelle Collins accepted a four-year suspension for a doping violation, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said yesterday. Collins, who forfeits her titles in the 200 meters from the 2003 indoor world and U.S. championships, originally was suspended for eight years but appealed. Usada reduced the sanction to four years, and Collins agreed to drop her appeal.

An arbitration panel found that Collins, 34, used banned substances provided by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. She never tested positive, but the panel concluded she used the drugs for several years. Usada based its case on patterns observed from blood and urine tests Collins had in recent years, along with documents seized from Balco by federal prosecutors and statements made by Balco officials.

FOOTBALL

REPORTS: VIKINGS’ SMITH FACING YEAR-LONG SUSPENSION

Minnesota Vikings running back Onterrio Smith, caught recently with a device designed to beat drug tests, has been told by the NFL that he will miss the 2005 season, according to two published reports.

Citing two anonymous team sources, ESPN.com reported that Smith skipped a drug test, which qualifies as a violation under the league’s substance abuse policy. Missing a drug test is equivalent to a positive test, and Smith already has two strikes against him and served a four-game suspension last season. A third violation brings with it a one-year suspension.

Earlier yesterday, Vikings coach Mike Tice said Smith would miss the rest of the team’s off-season program for undisclosed reasons. Both reports said the suspension was unrelated to Smith being stopped April 21 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after his bag set off a screening device. A search found several vials of dried urine and “The Original Whizzinator,” which is marketed as a way to beat drug tests.

SOURCE: WINSLOW HAS TORN ACL

Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee when he crashed his motorcycle, two sources within the league told the Associated Press yesterday, placing his 2005 season in doubt. Winslow wrecked his high-powered bike while riding in a parking lot on May 1. He will get a second opinion before surgery is scheduled, said the sources, who have knowledge of his injuries and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Although the Browns have Winslow’s medical test results, the club can not disclose the nature of his injuries because they have not received permission from Winslow or his family.

Winslow, who missed 14 games as a rookie with a broken leg, breached a hazardous activities clause in his contract by riding the motorcycle. The Browns could ask him to return part of his record signing bonus.

BASKETBALL

BOGUT LEADS LIST OF 108 EARLY DRAFT ENTRIES

Utah center Andrew Bogut leads the list of 108 players who filed as early-entry candidates for the NBA draft. Of the 73 American players who made themselves eligible for the June 28 draft, 12 are high school seniors. The players have the right to withdraw their names from the list by notifying the NBA by June 21, one week before the draft is held in Madison Square Garden. Any college players who have not signed with an agent can return to their school and not lose their eligibility.

GOLF

SHEEHAN RACES TO EARLY LEAD AT COLONIAL

Patrick Sheehan shot an 8-under 62 yesterday to take the lead in the opening round of the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas. Instead of the Colonial record of 61, Sheehan settled for his best PGA Tour round and also matched the low first round on tour this year. Sheehan has a two-stroke lead over Brian Bateman and D.J. Trahan, and 2003 winner Kenny Perry was another stroke back at 65 along with Brandt Jobe and Kevin Na.

Phil Mickelson,no.2 on the money list and the highest-ranked player in the field at no. 4, shot a 71 and is tied for 55th.

– Associated Press