Off the wire

NCAA MEETINGS

Chairman: Reform on way

The chairman of the NCAA's infractions committee says a number of factors could be the cause for the lack of activity by the group that prompted Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby to call the enforcement program "broken." Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky, chairman of the Committee on Infractions, on Wednesday listed reforms and restructuring in the enforcement system and expansion of the committee as possible reasons. He also noted the NCAA enforcement director changed in the aftermath of two investigators and two key leaders leaving in less than a year after an internal investigation uncovered problems with the NCAA's investigation of the University of Miami. At Big 12 media days Monday, Bowlsby said "cheating pays" and that anyone who conspired to bend the rules could do so successfully. "They're in a battle with a BB gun in their hand. They're fighting howitzers," Bowlsby said of NCAA enforcement officials, while also saying he didn't believe cheating was rampant. Banowsky said the last NCAA infractions hearing was in the Miami case in June 2013. "I have to say that a lot of what (Bowlsby) says is true relative to the inactivity," Banowsky said at his league's media day. "I've been assured and encouraged that there's a lot in the pipeline and the thing is kind of ramping back up again and the new system is going to get engaged and functioning. I do appreciate what Bob is saying. I have a lot of respect for him and I think he's smart and honest and accurate in the way that he sees these things," Banowsky said. "I'm a little more measured because I live in it. ... I think this next year is a really important year for that process and for that system, and for the NCAA as an organization, really."

BASEBALL

Padres OF suspended

San Diego Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin was suspended 25 games by Major League Baseball on Wednesday for testing positive for an amphetamine. Maybin said in a statement released by the Major League Baseball Players Association the failed test was the result of a change in the medication he was using to treat Attention Deficit Disorder. "I have been undergoing treatment for several years for a medical condition, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), for which I previously had a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). Unfortunately, in my attempts to switch back to a medicine that had been previously OK'd, I neglected to follow all the rules and as a result I tested positive," Maybin said. "I want to assure everyone that this was a genuine effort to treat my condition and I was not trying in any way to gain an advantage in my baseball career." Under the drug agreement between MLB and its players' union, 25 games is the penalty for a second positive amphetamine test. A first positive results only in six unannounced follow-up tests over the next year. The 27-year-old Maybin was batting .247 with one home run and nine RBI in 62 games this season. "I understand that I must accept responsibility for this mistake and I will take my punishment and will not challenge my suspension," Maybin said. "I apologize to my family, friends, fans, teammates and the entire Padres organization. I look forward to returning to the field and contributing to the success of my club."

• The Houston Astros have placed outfielder George Springer on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps and recalled utility man Marc Krauss from Class AAA Oklahoma City. The Astros announced the moves before Wednesday night's game at Oakland. Springer's stint on the DL is retroactive to Sunday because he hasn't played since Saturday at the Chicago White Sox. He has sat out with he called discomfort in his quadriceps and knee area since. Springer is batting .231 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI through 78 games in his rookie season.

• Yankees infielder Kelly Johnson has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left groin. New York selected the contract of right-hander Chris Leroux from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before Wednesday night's game against Texas. The move adds a fresh arm to the bullpen following a 14-inning victory Tuesday night. Johnson made his first major league start in right field Tuesday and was injured trying to beat out a 10th-inning grounder. He left the game and was replaced by Ichiro Suzuki. Johnson is batting .219 with six homers and 22 RBI in his first season with the Yankees. He has made 33 starts at third base and 23 at first.

HORSE RACING

Daring Dancer wins

Daring Dancer won the Grade 2 $200,000 Lake George by a head Wednesday at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Graham Motion for owner Sagamore Farm, the 3-year-old Empire Maker filly saved ground along the rail in the early going and swung three wide in mid-stretch to catch A Little Bit Sassy a jump from the wire. Under regular rider Alan Garcia, Daring Dancer ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.92 on a firm inner turf course and paid $8.30, $4.10 and $3.40. A Little Bit Sassy returned $4.40 and $3.60, and Daring Kathy paid $3.90 to show. On May 25 in her previous start, Daring Dancer ran next-to-last as the favorite in the Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont Park.

TENNIS

Popisil advances

Fourth-seeded Vasek Popisil of Canada advanced to the Atlanta Open quarterfinals, beating Ukrainian qualifier Illya Marchenko 7-5, 6-3 on Wednesday. American Jack Sock topped New Zealand's Michael Venus 6-4, 6-2 in another second-round match, and seventh-seeded Yen-hsun Lu of Taiwan beat American Alex Kuznetsov 6-4, 6-4 in a first-round match. Defending champion John Isner, the No. 1 seed, will open play today against wild-card entry Robby Ginepri of Atlanta. Ginepri beat Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky on Tuesday.

Juan Monaco of Argentina beat third-seeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the second round of the Swiss Open in Gstaad, Switzerland. Monaco took advantage of Garcia-Lopez's service problems in a match which had nine breaks of serve. Monaco, who was a top-10 player in 2012, has won seven of his eight career titles on outdoor clay courts. He plays Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, a two-time Gstaad champion, in the quarterfinals.

Sports on 07/24/2014

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