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Wednesday's Sports Briefs

Published: Jul 5, 2007

WRESTLING

Benoit Surfaced In Federal Drug Probe

ATLANTA - Chris Benoit's mother said she wonders whether her son would still be alive if federal agents had been more aggressive when they discovered the professional wrestler was buying large quantities of steroids.

The Drug Enforcement Administration acknowledged this week that Benoit's name surfaced in an investigation before he killed his wife, son and himself. But Benoit wasn't charged, and his supply continued until at least May, a month before the murder-suicide, according to a review of records by The Associated Press.

DEA spokesman Rusty Payne said, "It's ridiculous for anyone to think we could have known that anything like that could have happened."

But Benoit's mother said she is also concerned by another disclosure that police were previously aware Benoit's doctor, Phil Astin, may have been improperly prescribing medications.

Asked if quicker action by authorities could have helped her son, Margaret Benoit said in a telephone interview from her home in Alberta, Canada, "We would certainly hope so. We just don't know. We're dealing with so many things. It's incredible."

The case highlights the DEA's focus on drug traffickers rather than individual users, even when those users are star athletes and celebrities. The targets of the BALCO investigation in San Francisco, for instance, weren't the baseball players and runners who allegedly bought steroids but the distribution network that sold them.

Building those types of cases can take years.

Astin was charged Monday, more than a week after the killings, with improperly prescribing medications to two patients, but not to Benoit. More charges are possible later.

SOCCER

Beckham Aims To Play July 21

LONDON - David Beckham is confident he can recover from an ankle injury in time for his debut with the Los Angeles Galaxy in a July 21 exhibition against Chelsea in California.

The England midfielder originally injured his left ankle playing for England in a European Championship qualifier June 6. The injury flared again when he played for Real Madrid in the Spanish league.

COPA AMERICA: The United States was eliminated from advancing in the Copa America when Mexico played a 0-0 tie against Chile at Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela, and Brazil beat Ecuador 1-0. The United States (0-2) plays its final game today against Colombia (0-2).

ELSEWHERE

NASCAR Penalizes Kyle Busch, Sauter

DAYTONA BEACH - NASCAR has penalized the Nextel Cup teams of Kyle Busch and Johnny Sauter for rule infractions found on their cars during the postrace inspection following Sunday's race at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Both the No. 5 Chevrolet of Busch and the No. 70 Chevrolet of Sauter were found to have used unapproved parts and failed to meet the minimum front car heights.

NASCAR said Busch and Sauter each were penalized 25 points and their respective crew chiefs, Alan Gustafson and Robert "Bootie" Barker, each were fined $25,000 and placed on probation until Sept. 19.

In addition, Rick Hendrick, owner of the No. 5, was penalized 25 car-owner championship points, as was Joe Custer, owner of the No. 70.

CYCLING: Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong said he believes last year's winner, Floyd Landis, did not dope but likely will lose his arbitration case against the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Landis, who is barred from defending his title in France this month, tested positive for abnormal levels of testosterone after a dramatic and decisive win in the Tour's 17th stage last year.

NBA: Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, the second and fifth overall choices in last week's NBA draft, signed contracts with the Seattle SuperSonics. … Guard Matt Carroll and Charlotte came to terms on a six-year, $27 million contract. The Bobcats also signed first-round pick Jared Dudley to his rookie contract.

COLLEGE BASEBALL: Players Jim Abbott (Michigan), Pete Incaviglia (Oklahoma State), Fred Lynn (USC), John Olerud (Washington State), Phil Stephenson (Wichita State) and Derek Tatsuno (Hawaii) were inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in Lubbock, Texas. Coaches inducted: the late Jim Brock (Arizona State), Chuck "Bobo" Brayton (Washington State), the late Bibb Falk (Texas), Jerry Kindall (Arizona) and the late Dick Siebert (Minnesota).

HORSE RACING: Four years removed from making a run at a Triple Crown, Funny Cide returned to the winner's circle at a track far removed from the majesty of Churchill Downs.

The 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner captured the 31st running of the $100,000 Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in Farmington, N.Y., driving past pace-setting Johnie Bye Night down the stretch and pulling away by three lengths at the finish. The 7-year-old Funny Cide had not won in six outings.

A Tribune staff, wire report