THE UNIVERSITY OF DALY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2006
SPORTS
5B
TRACK & FIELD
Backup drug test clears Marion Jones of performance-enhancing drug use
Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press
Marion Jones sprints on her way to placing second in the women's 100 metres at the IAAF Golden Gala International track meet, in Rome's Olympic stadium, in this July 14, 2006 file photo.
The backup test, conducted at the same UCLA lab using the same sample, came back negative, however, meaning the 30-year-old sprinter has been cleared of any wrongdoing. She faced a minimum two-year ban.
USADA general counsel Travis Tygart did not immediately return messages left late Wednesday by The Associated Press. U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman Darryl Seibel said the federation had no comment on the news.
The backup drug test for sprinter Marion Jones came back negative, clearing the five-time Olympic medalist of doping allegations that have dogged her for the past month, her attorneys said Wednesday night.
"I am anxious to get back on the track." Jones said.
The statement, released by attorney Rich Nichols, said the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency informed Jones that the test had come back negative. USADA does not comment on active cases and never acknowledged Jones' positive "A" test.
"I am absolutely ecstatic," Jones said in a statement released by her lawyers. "I have always maintained that I have never ever taken performance enhancing drugs, and I am pleased that a scientific process has now demonstrated that fact."
jones tested positive for the banned endurance enhancer EPO on June 23. She withdrew from a meet in Switzerland hours before reports of the test result were revealed.
Questions have long been raised about the reliability of EPO testing in the past, and this negative "B" test will spark further debate.
"I believe there are issues with that test," said Howard Jacobs, another Jones attorney who has defended several athletes on doping charges. "It's a difficult test. From what I saw on the 'A' sample, it was questionable as to whether it should've been called a positive. I can't say I was shocked that the 'B' came back negative based on what the 'A' looked like."
As he has in the doping case involving Tour de France winner Floyd Landis, Jacobs derided the leaking of positive tests. Doping cases aren't supposed to be made public until they are resolved, but most become public through the media once a positive "A" test is confirmed.
U. S. OPEN
Nadal loses to 54-ranked Russian in upset U.S. Open men's match
BY HOWARD FENDRICH ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Rafael Nadal's shots were off the mark and, more shockingly, even his boundless energy seemed to fail him. After one miss-hit, the man usually in perpetual motion hunched over, hands on knees, to catch his breath.
No. 2 Nadal and No. 1 Roger Federer will not become the first pair of men to meet in three consecutive Grand Slam finals during a season: Nadal was upset in the U.S.
Open quarterfinals by 54th-ranked Mikhail Youzhyn of Russia 6-3, 5-7,
7-6 (5), 6-1 on Wednesday.
He wasn't alone. After all, Youzhny never before had been beyond the fourth round of a major tournament. What was most remarkable was the way Nadal, the two-time French Open champion and this year's Wimbledon runner-up, succumbed at the end, hanging his head at changeovers in the fourth set after
"Unbelievable." Youzhny said. "I cannot believe I beat Rafa in four sets."
wasting a 5-4 lead in the tiebreaker
"I am trying to fight, but I wasn't," Nadal said. "I was not my best in the fourth, no? I know I lost a big opportunity. And after that, Mikhail is playing unbelievable ... all winners."
It was the biggest news on a busy day following Tuesday's almost total rainout. And it's probably safe to say that Youzhyny's seminal opponent — either Andy Roddick or Lleyton Hewitt, two past Open champions who were to meet later Wednesday — would be relieved not to have to
On the other side of the men's draw, the top-seeded Federer moved into a quarterfinal against No. 5 James Blake, both winning in straight sets. That half's other quarterfinal will be No. 7 Nikolay Davydenko against No. 14 Tommy Haas.
"If I play my best, then I don't see any reason why I can't win. If he's playing his best, then I can see a reason why I might not win, but it's possible," said Blake, trying to reach his first major semifinal. "He's lost before. He is human."
» BIG 12 FOOTBALL0
Mizzou WR shows speed
Franklin catches, rushes to bring Tigers a victory
BY TROY SCHULTE ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, Mo. — It didn't take long for the new and improved Will Franklin to show himself.
Six plays into Missouri's season-opening 47-7 win over Murray State Saturday, the junior wide receiver took a short pass from quarterback Chase Daniel, made a quick move around the cornerback and ran untouched 60 yards for a touchdown.
Franklin also caught a 34-yard scoring pass later in the game among four catches for 138 yards. For teammates and coaches, it was an extension of what they've seen from the St. Louis native since the beginning of preseason.
"I'm not going to say I was immature," he said. "Just knowing that I'm going on the downhill of college, the last two years, it was time to mature. It wasn't a choice or an option. It was time to be a leader for the younger guys."
Franklin was second on the team with 40 catches for 413 yards in 2005. But there were still a few things he needed to change before he could turn into a consistent threat.
Franklin lost two mentors after last season with the graduation of quarterback Brad Smith and receiver Sean Coffey. When senior Brad Ekwerekwu was forced to miss the first three weeks of fall camp after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, Franklin became, temporarily, the most experienced member of the receiving corps.
That's when the "light went on" for Franklin, receivers coach Andy Hill said, "the realization that the guys you looked up to, the guys you counted on for motivation or guidance and counsel are now gone. You either accept the role or you shy away from it. He's done a good job of accepting it."
Evidence of Franklin's maturity came in how he evaluated his performance after the Murray State game. He was critical of himself for two drops that could have been touch-downs.
"I don't accept that as a good performance—I dropped two balls," Franklin said. "Next week, when I get those opportunities again, I'll make the best of them."
Coach Gary Pinkel was plenty pleased with what he saw of Franklin.
"What you saw is what we've been seeing all through spring and two-a-days," Pinkel said.
Daniel, speaking at the team's weekly news conference Monday, said it is obvious Franklin wants to be considered a dependable target.
"There is just something — a sparkle in his eye or something — that tells you he really wants the ball and he really wants to be a playmaker in this offense," Daniel said.
Franklin has had other big games in his career, including the 2005 opener when he caught eight passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in a 44-17 win over Arkansas State. Coaches say the key is keeping it up
"We're shooting for consistency every week," Hill said.