International Capsules: AP source: USOC, IOC reach $18 million deal
LONDON (AP) — The U.S. Olympic Committee will contribute $18 million to resolve a financial dispute that has strained relations with the IOC, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The decision ends an impasse over administrative costs of staging the games.
The USOC and International Olympic Committee announced Thursday they had agreed on a "significant financial contribution" from the American body. The amount was confirmed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms are confidential.
The breakthrough clears the way for the IOC and USOC to open negotiations earlier than planned on a more substantial long-term revenue-sharing agreement.
"This is a milestone accomplishment for us," USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun said. "We're very much looking forward to being in a substantive dialogue with the IOC. The tone of our relationship with them continues to be very respectful and we're excited about the future."
Thursday's announcement followed meetings between USOC and IOC delegations last month at the Youth Olympics. Talks began last year in Denver and continued at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February.
"I am pleased that our relationship has progressed to the point where we can begin to make significant headway on a number of issues that have been a point of contention between the USOC and the IOC," USOC chairman Larry Probst said in a statement.
The agreement is considered vital to the USOC's efforts of rebuilding relations with the international Olympic world. The USOC's troubled standing was illustrated last year when Chicago was eliminated in the first round of voting for the 2016 Games. That followed New York's humbling defeat in 2005 for the 2012 Olympics.
Crucial to the breakthrough was the addition of Dow Chemical Co. as a global Olympic sponsor in a 10-year, multimillion-dollar deal announced in July. The USOC receives a share of more than $25 million from the Dow deal, which made it easier to compromise on the administrative costs.
The USOC was reluctant to cut funds from any of its programs for the games' costs, so the money from the sponsorship provided the solution.
The administrative costs — paid by all national Olympic committees — go toward the funding of Olympic commissions, anti-doping operations, the Court of Arbitration for Sport and other matters. Until now, the USOC has not participated in those costs.
The new agreement covers costs from the Vancouver Games and the 2012 London Olympics.
Still pending is the more significant revenue-sharing issue. The sides agreed last year to begin negotiations in 2013 on a new revenue formula to go into effect in 2020, but the latest agreement allows them to start those talks right away.
Currently, the USOC gets a 20 percent share of global sponsorship revenue and a 12.75 percent share of U.S. broadcast rights deals. Many international officials feel the U.S. share is too high — some have even called it "immoral."
"I am very pleased that we can put the issue of games' costs behind us for the time being so that we can pursue a broader discussion," Blackmun said in a statement. "That discussion will be difficult and complicated, but we will be aided by the fact that we can have a constructive dialogue, and that would not have been possible just a few months ago."
FIBA to rule by March on British Olympic status
ISTANBUL (AP) — Britain will know by next spring whether its basketball teams will earn a spot in the 2012 London Olympics.
While most Olympic host nations automatically qualify for the games, governing body FIBA wants to see progress in Britain's basketball programs before giving the men's and women's teams places in the 2012 tournament.
"We have always said that Team GB needs to be competitive and we have been impressed by both the performance of the Team GB men and women in qualifying for next year's EuroBasket," FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann said after a board meeting at the world championships in Istanbul.
"However, our concern is the long-term development of basketball in Great Britain and what the legacy will be for the game once the 2012 Olympics in London are over."
Baumann is writing to the British federation to specify the steps needed for qualification. A decision on whether the teams qualify will be made early next year, probably in March.
"It is always of value to have the host nation playing in the Olympic basketball tournament and we have no doubt the British public will support the competition," Baumann said.
The British men's team is led by Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng. The men's European Championship will be played in Lithuania in September 2011.
Track & Field
Caster Semenya wins 800 at Notturna di Milano meet
MILAN (AP) — Caster Semenya returned to form by winning the 800 meters at the Notturna di Milano meet on Thursday, her last race before the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
The 19-year-old world champion from South Africa spent most of the race in second, but overtook Hind Dehiba of France on the back straight to cross in 1 minute, 58.16 seconds. It was her best time since she was cleared to run after being sidelined 11 months by a gender dispute.
"I feel pretty happy," Semenya said. "I wasn't expecting a fast race. But my coach told me to run my own race, even if it was fast.
"We have been looking to run 1:58 and it is good for us to build up to that time. What I need to do now is concentrate on my next race and not worry about what is written about me."
Semenya had recently finished third in the Brussels Diamond League meet and seventh at the Rovereto in northern Italy. She will now head home before the Commonwealth Games start on Oct. 3. The track and field competition begins three days later.
"I'm going home and will just do some basic training sessions," Semenya said. "It is the same training as the last few weeks and I will try to keep doing the same times."
Two-time European champion Christophe Lemaitre of France continued his impressive season by winning the 100 in 10.18. The Frenchman was the slowest out of the blocks, but took the lead at 60 meters and accelerated across the finish line.
"My start wasn't good, but I did what I had to do," Lemaitre said. "I am used to my start being like that, and I have had to get used to it."
In the 400, double-amputee Oscar Pistorius of South Africa finished fourth in 46.48 in his 22nd and final race of the season.
"I'm happy, I felt good," Pistorius said. "I kept my speed up to the end and I couldn't have asked for a better end to the season than that. I've run two races at 46.0, so I've just got to get a good base in preseason and work hard toward 45.0."
Jamaican runner Wilkins banned 2 years for doping
KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Jamaican 400-meter runner Bobby-Gaye Wilkins was banned Thursday for two years for using a performance-enhancing substance.
Warren Blake of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association said the runner will be barred from competition until April 2012.
Wilkins tested positive for the banned substance andranine in March at the indoor world championships in Doha, Qatar. She was a member of the Jamaican 4x400 relay team that won a bronze medal at the tournament.
In another case, Blake said the penalty may be reduced for Olympic and world 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser, who was provisionally suspended by the IAAF in June after a positive test for a painkiller. Fraser said she took the medicine for a toothache.
"Circumstances exist for a reduction in ban and that's something the IAAF agrees with," Blake said. "We're hoping that this will happen this week."
Fraser tested positive for the prohibited substance Oxycodone at a meet in China on May 23, but her manager said a doctor gave her the medication to ease pain after a dental procedure. The Jamaican sprinter had been facing up to a two-year ban.
Olympian Lagat, Webb lead Fifth Avenue Mile field
NEW YORK (AP) — Two-time Olympic medalist Bernard Lagat will face defending champion Andy Baddeley and Alan Webb in the Fifth Avenue Mile.
New York Road Runners announced the field Thursday for the race down the famed avenue on Sept. 26.
Shannon Rowbury will defend her title in the women's event, which includes 2006 champion Sara Hall.
Lagat is the American record-holder in the 1,500, 3,000, and 5,000 meters and eight-time winner of the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in New York.
Webb is the American mile record-holder at 3:46.91. He's returning from Achilles' tendon surgery and trains with three-time New York City Marathon champion Alberto Salazar.
Cycling
Cavendish wins 12th stage of Spanish Vuelta
LLEIDA, Spain (AP) — Briton Mark Cavendish won the 12th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Thursday, while Igor Anton of Spain retained the overall race lead.
Cavendish finished the 107.2-mile leg from Andorra la Vella to Lleida in 4 hours, 30 seconds after timing his final sprint to perfection, beating Tyler Farrar in second and Matthew Harley Goss third.
"Hopefully, I can continue winning for as long as I am a professional," Cavendish said.
Anton remains 45 seconds ahead of Vincenzo Nibali of Italy in the overall standings.
The 12th stage began without Belgian Roy Sentjens, who was provisionally suspended and removed from the race after testing positive for the banned endurance-boosting hormone EPO.
The UCI, cycling's governing body, said Sentjens tested positive in an out-of-competition urine sample taken Aug. 16.
Sentjens was suspended by the UCI until the Belgian cycling federation holds a hearing to decide if he broke antidoping rules. He can request and attend an analysis of his back up sample.
The 29-year-old Team Milram rider was 49th in the overall standings, more than 29 minutes behind race leader Anton after the 11th stage.
A mass sprint developed around 2.5 miles from the finish of Thursday's stage, with sprinters Cavendish, Farrar and Harley Goss all vying for position. Harley Goss made the first move, setting up Cavendish, his HTC-Colombia teammate, for the victory.
The Vuelta continues Friday with a 121.8-mile ride from Rincon de Soto to Burgos.
Belgian rider Roy Sentjens suspended for doping
AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) — Belgian cyclist Roy Sentjens has been provisionally suspended and removed from the Spanish Vuelta after testing positive for the banned endurance-boosting hormone EPO.
The International Cycling Union says Sentjens tested positive in an out-of-competition urine sample taken on Aug. 16.
Sentjens is suspended by the UCI until the Belgian cycling federation holds a hearing to decide if he broke anti-doping rules. He can request and attend an analysis of his back up sample.
The 29-year-old Team Milram rider was removed from the Spanish tour after completing Wednesday's 11th stage.
Sentjens was 49th in the overall standings, more than 29 minutes behind race leader Igor Anton.
