International Capsules: Alinghi offers Australia as America's Cup venue

SAN DIEGO — The most contentious America’s Cup in the 158-year history of the event could be headed to Australia, if the teams can agree to end their long, bitter court fight.

Defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland told a New York judge Thursday that it would race American challenger BMW Oracle Racing off Australia in February as a compromise. Alinghi still prefers to race in the Persian Gulf.

The yachting showcase has been beset by a two-year legal tussle between bickering billionaires Larry Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli.

The Swiss haven’t named a specific port, but said several locations on Australia’s east coast would be suitable for the best-of-three showdown in giant multihulls, the fastest, most extreme boats built for the America’s Cup.

"This is a venue that should be acceptable to both teams if, as expressed publicly, the true intention of BMW Oracle is to race for the America’s Cup on the water," Alinghi said in a statement.

Like everything else in this fight, though, getting an agreement could be tough.

Alinghi’s yacht club, Societe Nautique de Geneve, made the offer in a letter to New York State Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich. If the justice agrees, and the Americans agree to drop legal proceedings, the Swiss said they would select a Southern Hemisphere location within 10 business days.

"This is an elegant solution to eliminate all litigation," Barry Ostrager, a New York lawyer who represents SNG, told The Associated Press.

Philip Bowman, an attorney for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Yacht Club, which backs the American challenger, sent a letter to Ostrager asking him to identify which venue on Australia’s 2,500-mile east coast the Swiss want. Racing is scheduled to start Feb. 8.

"This information is necessary to ascertain whether it would be possible to prepare for a race at the chosen location on short notice," Bowman wrote.

Kornreich is scheduled to hear the two sides’ latest arguments on rules and the venue on Friday.

Alinghi originally chose Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, as the venue. Last week, Kornreich ruled that RAK was ineligible because of the stipulation in the 19th-century Deed of Gift that the America’s Cup can’t be sailed in the Northern Hemisphere between Nov. 1 and May. 1.

BMW Oracle Racing, owned by Ellison, the CEO of Oracle Corp., also objected to Ras Al-Khaimah on security grounds because it is close to Iran.

The Swiss on Wednesday were granted an expedited appeal of Kornreich’s ruling eliminating RAK.

The Cup had seemed headed for Valencia, Spain. Although it is in the Northern Hemisphere, neither side objected earlier in the court fight to holding the series in the Spanish port, although they disagreed on the dates. Valencia hosted the 2007 America’s Cup.

"We have asked her for clarity, if she is forcing Valencia as the venue or keeping the defender’s right to choose," Alinghi spokesman Paco Latorre told The AP.

SNG based its selection of RAK on now-retired Justice Herman Cahn’s order that the Swiss could hold the racing in Valencia or any other location, as long as they gave the Americans six months notice.

"GGYC shouldn’t be able to have it both ways," Ostrager said. "If the ‘any other location’ language in the order is trumped by the Deed of Gift Northern Hemisphere requirement, notwithstanding that Valencia is in the Northern Hemisphere, then the six months notice requirement in the order is trumped by the Deed of Gift requirement that the defender has the right to select the venue."

With time running out, logistics become a concern. If this were a normal America’s Cup, syndicates would fly their sloops to the venue in a giant Russian cargo plane. But nothing has been normal about this America’s Cup.

The boats are so big that they’ll have to be transported by ship, regardless of the venue. BMW Oracle Racing’s 90-by-90-foot trimaran has been in San Diego since last fall. Alinghi’s equally immense catamaran, Alinghi 5, has been in RAK for several weeks, along with the sailing team and some 100 support personnel.

Australia once was an America’s Cup power but hasn’t competed since the 1999-2000 regatta in Auckland, New Zealand. The Aussie skipper then, James Spithill, is now BMW Oracle Racing’s helmsman.

In 1983, the wing-keeled Australia II ended the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak, the longest in sports, by beating Dennis Conner’s Liberty in seven races off Newport, R.I.

Four years later, Conner won back the Cup with a four-race sweep of Kookaburra III off Fremantle on Australia’s west coast.

Hockey

Swede Holmstrom 1 of many on bubble for Olympics

DETROIT — Tomas Holmstrom is very motivated to get off to a strong start with the Detroit Red Wings.

The 36-year-old forward wants to show he's not a washed-up player, whose lackluster production last season was a result of injuries, not years of hits taking a toll.

Holmstrom hopes ranking among Detroit's leading scorers, as he is currently, will secure him a spot on Sweden's hockey team for the Vancouver Olympics.

The player known as "Homer" has the will and skill to stand in front of the net to distract goaltenders and tip pucks past them. He also has the experience of helping the Swedes win gold at the 2006 Olympics.

Holmstrom, though, says only Swedish star Nicklas Lidstrom is a lock to help their country repeat.

"We had 35 guys at a meeting this summer in Sweden, and I hear there are 60 guys on the list," he said. "Nobody is sure they're on the team — other than Nick.

"It's going to be my last Olympics, for sure, so I would love to be there. I know they're watching and it's going to come down to how I perform."

Belarus is expected to be the first country to announce its men's hockey roster on Dec. 23. The United States plans to be last, unveiling its 23-man squad after the NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day.

Until then, several spots on each of the 12 teams are up for grabs.

Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, said how healthy players are — or aren't — will be a key factor.

"Sadly, some people who you want on the roster or might want are going to get hurt," Ogrean said. "Four years ago, we planned to have Ryan Miller on the team, and we didn't because he broke him thumb."

Ogrean acknowledged the U.S. team plans to count on an influx of youth to replace the retired or aging players it has relied on recently.

"We've had some real warriors, but we don't expect to be in Vancouver with a bunch of players in their late 30s," Ogrean said. "It's not that we're pushing anybody out, it's just inertia that we're going through a changing of the guard with a new generation of players."

Mike Modano wants to be an exception.

The 39-year-old Dallas Stars forward has played in the past three Olympics, helping the Americans win silver in 2002.

Modano, though, was out for a month with a rib injury before returning to the ice for just his second game this season on Wednesday night.

"It probably doesn't help things, obviously," he said. "You wanted to have a strong start to the season and have a good two, three months."

Competition will be fierce to make Canada's team, which will get a once-in-a-lifetime experience of playing at the Olympics in the hockey-crazed country.

Hockey Canada executive director Steve Yzerman will be calling the shots for the coveted spots.

"We're watching games every night — in person and on TV — to know exactly what the guys we're looking at can do, and we're making phone calls," Yzerman said. "We have an idea who our core guys will be, then we'll see who's healthy at the end of December and who's the best fit to fill out the roster."

Dallas Stars forward Brenden Morrow would be thrilled if he ends up being one of those complementary pieces for the Canadians.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't on my mind," Morrow said. "But I take care of the Dallas Stars, and the rest will work itself out.

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Sharp insisted it doesn't cross his mind that a strong start could put him on Team Canada.

"It doesn't do anybody any good to look across the league and say, 'Oh, a Canadian playing for the Detroit Red Wings scored a goal or somebody on the Flyers got a hat trick,'" Sharp said. "I'm just going to go out and play my game. I think people around the league know what I have to offer."

Los Angeles Kings forward Alexander Frolov is one of the only players who seems to be on the bubble, but publicly likes his chances of cracking Russia's star-studded lineup.

"I'm pretty confident, but it's up to headquarters," he said. "There are a lot of great players, but I know myself pretty good and I know what I can contribute."

-- Larry Lage

Track & Field

South Africa track chief suspended in Semenya case

JOHANNESBURG — The South African track chief who lied about his role in runner Caster Semenya’s gender tests was suspended Thursday.

Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene and the rest of the track body’s 12-member board were suspended pending investigations into their handling of Semenya’s case, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said in a statement.

The committee appointed one of its members, Ray Mali, as ASA’s administrator. He is expected to call an urgent meeting to elect an interim board.

The Olympic committee also said its officials were considering action against international track officials for their "disregard of Ms. Semenya’s rights to privacy." The statement did not elaborate.

Earlier Thursday, ASA said in a statement it wished to "publicly and unconditionally apologize to Caster Semenya and her family, the president of South Africa as well as to all South Africans for the handling of her gender verification processes and the subsequent aftermath."

That statement referred to recent criticism of ASA from the governing African National Congress.

Semenya won the 800-meter world championships in August after the International Association of Athletics Federations said it had ordered gender tests.

Chuene later said he lied about his knowledge of the tests to protect Semenya’s privacy. Despite calls for his resignation, he received a vote of confidence from the ASA.

The 18-year-old Semenya, a student at the University of Pretoria, has made only a few public appearances since returning from the World Championships in Berlin.

Last month, she and other South Africans who earned medals at the world championships were honored at a dinner organized by the ANC’s Youth League.

Figure Skating

Takahashi looking for comeback at NHK Trophy

NAGANO, Japan — Daisuke Takahashi is taking some inspiration from World Series MVP Hideki Matsui when he competes at this weekend’s NHK Trophy.

The connection between a figure skater and the New York Yankees slugger may seem tenuous, but Takahashi and Matsui have more in common that their nationality. Both had major knee surgery and, like Matsui, Takahashi is hoping to make a big comeback after a layoff.

Matsui’s record-tying six RBIs on Wednesday helped the Yankees to a clinching 7-3 win over Philadelphia and their 27th title.

"That was quite a performance," Takahashi said Friday. "I’m very proud of him, as are all Japanese people, and hopefully I can bounce back like he did."

The 2007 world silver medalist missed all of last season with a knee injury, and is hoping to win a spot at the Vancouver Olympics on what will be a competitive Japanese men’s team.

Takahashi was No. 1 in the world when he injured his right knee in practice just over a year ago. With damage to the anterior cruciate ligament and cartilage, he had to skip the 2008-09 season and have major surgery.

He won the Finlandia Trophy last month, but the NHK will be his first major event since the 2008 world championships in Goteborg, Sweden.

"My condition is very good," Takahashi said. "The knee is fully recovered. I’m feeling a little nervous about the NHK, but I also have high expectations for myself and am very excited to be competing again."

Other men competing in the NHK, which begins Friday, include Americans Johnny Weir, Adam Rippon and Jeremy Abbott, and Takahashi’s compatriot Takahiro Kozuka. France’s Brian Joubert, the 2007 world champion, is also skating.

Japan’s Miki Ando, who won the Rostelecom Cup two weeks ago in Russia, highlights the women’s program. Yukari Nakano, American Ashley Wagner and Finland’s Laura Lepisto are the other top women competing.

The NHK is the fourth of six stops on the International Skating Union’s Grand Prix circuit. The next event will be Skate America in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The top six skaters in each discipline qualify for the Grand Prix final, which will be held in Tokyo from Dec. 3-6.

-- Jim Armstrong

Cycling

Spanish cyclist Fernandez suspended for doping

AIGLE, Switzerland — The International Cycling Union has suspended Spanish rider Alberto Fernandez for testing positive for EPO.

The UCI said Thursday that the banned endurance-boosting hormone was found in a urine sample taken at Fernandez’s home on Oct. 15.

The 25-year-old Fuji-Servetto rider was targeted for unannounced testing because of suspect results revealed in samples given for his personal biological passport.

Fernandez can request that his backup sample is tested for confirmation.

The UCI said it has asked the Spanish cycling federation to open a disciplinary case. Fernandez has been provisionally suspended until the federation rules on the case.

Landis 14th in New Zealand road race

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Floyd Landis finished seventh in Friday’s stage of the Tour of Southland, moving into 14th place overall after seven of nine stages.

Landis finished the 102-mile ride between Winton and Te Anau on New Zealand’s South Island 4 seconds behind stage winner Patrick Bevan. The American is 11 minutes, 56 seconds behind overall leader Heath Blackgrove of New Zealand.

Landis was among the leading group throughout Friday’s stage and was able to hold onto a prominent placing in a sprint finish. The tour concludes with two stages Saturday.

Landis won the 2006 Tour de France but was disqualified and banned for two years when doping tests revealed elevated levels of testosterone. He returned to racing in January.

Elsewhere

Ontario to investigate athletes’ swine flu shots

TORONTO — Ontario health minister Deb Matthews vowed Thursday to investigate whether Toronto’s NBA and NHL players jumped the line for the swine flu shot while other groups are being forced to wait as the province’s supply dwindles.

Matthews said she shares the outrage sparked by reports that Maple Leafs and Raptors players got the shot even though the province doesn’t have enough yet to vaccinate school-age children.

"I don’t care who you are, how rich you are, how famous you are," she said. "If you’re not in the priority group, get out of the line and let the people who are in the priority groups get their vaccination."

Matthews expects Ontario to run out of the regular H1N1 vaccine at the end of the week due to Ottawa’s dramatic supply slowdown.

The province has enough vaccine to immunize 2.2 million people, which is intended only for the estimated 3.4 million Ontarians who fall under the province’s high-priority groups, she said.

They include pregnant women, children between 6 months and 5 years of age, people who care for infants and other people who can’t get the vaccine, people under the age of 65 with chronic conditions and those living in remote communities. The government wants to add school-age children as a priority group, but Matthews said it doesn’t have enough vaccine.

She doesn’t yet know how the Maple Leafs and Raptors players got the shot.

A health employee in Alberta was fired after letting the Calgary Flames jump the swine flu shot line.

Bright, Kokubo win WC snowboarding events

SAAS-FEE, Switzerland — Torah Bright of Australia and Kazuhiro Kokubo of Japan won season-opening World Cup snowboarding events on Thursday.

"I was so glad that we had a good weather today," Bright said. "I had to get used to the pipe first, but then I could demonstrate some good runs."

Cai Xuetong of China finished second in the women’s competition, followed by Sophie Rodriguez of France.

With clean runs in the superpipe, Kokubo found himself surprised to be on top of the podium in the men’s event.

"I didn’t expect to win here against the strong international riders. But it’s a great feeling and an honor definitely," he said.

Mathieu Crepel of France was second and Peetu Piiroinen of Finland was third. X-Games silver medalist Kevin Pearce, of Norwich, Vt., finished 12th.