Off the wire

Cyclist Danielson tests positive for synthetic testosterone

Tour of Utah stage four winner Tom Danielson celebrates after finishing the stage at the top of Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah, in this August 2014 file photo.
Tour of Utah stage four winner Tom Danielson celebrates after finishing the stage at the top of Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah, in this August 2014 file photo.

American cyclist Tom Danielson tested positive for synthetic testosterone in an out-of-competition test last month and was immediately suspended by his team Monday.

Danielson, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, said on Twitter that he did not take any banned substance.

“I would never ever take anything like this especially after everything I have gone through the last years. This makes absolutely no sense,” said Danielson, who was once regarded as a potential Grand Tour contender.

Danielson, 36, said the “supplements” he is taking might have triggered the positive result.

Danielson, who rides for the Cannondale Garmin team, added that he was notified by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that a sample collected July 9 returned positive. As a result, Danielson withdrew from the Tour of Utah, where he was set to compete Aug. 3-9. Danielson testified as part of USADA’s investigation into Armstrong and US Postal and has admitted to doping in the past. He was among five of Armstrong’s teammates who accepted six-month doping suspensions in exchange for evidence that helped USADA to make the case to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles.

FOOTBALL

Tunsil case dismissed

• A legal case involving Mississippi offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and his stepfather has been dismissed. Both men had filed misdemeanor domestic violence charges against each other following an alleged fight in June. Lafayette County (Miss.) Justice Court records showed the charges were dismissed Monday. At the time of the incident, Ole Miss Coach Hugh Freeze said Tunsil was defending his mother from his stepfather, Lindsey Miller. The school also has acknowledged it is looking into allegations from the stepfather that Tunsil had improper contact with football agents. Freeze said during SEC media days that his starting left tackle would be eligible if the season started today. Tunsil, a 6-5, 315-pound junior, is considered a top NFL prospect for next year’s draft. Ole Miss reports for preseason camp Wednesday.

• Utah cornerback Dominique Hatfield has been charged with misdemeanor assault in a fight during a party last month, his second recent run-in with police. Salt Lake City detective Cody Lougy said neither a summons to appear nor a warrant has been issued but the investigation is ongoing. A man told police he was attacked by four or five people during a party on July 5. Lougy says the man identified Hatfield and said other Utah athletes were at the party. The man was treated at the hospital for a cut on the nose, a bump on the head and bruises to the face and body. Greg Skordas, Hatfield’s lawyer, said Hatfield contends he did not assault anyone, though he declined to say whether or not the ex-player was involved in the fight. Hatfield was dismissed from the team last month after he was charged in a separate case with aggravated robbery and theft. Prosecutors dropped charges last week, but say they could refile altered charges. Utah spokesman Liz Abel said Monday, “Dominique Hatfield’s dismissal from our team remains in effect and certain conditions would still need to be met for him to be considered for reinstatement in the future.” New evidence suggested Hatfield was not the person who robbed a man at knifepoint who planned to buy an Xbox game console, Salt Lake District Attorney chief deputy Blake Nakamura said last week. But Nakamura said they still suspect Hatfield may have been aware of the crime or involved. Surveillance footage shows him in the area of the robbery, he said. Nakamura said they also still believe Hatfield tried to sell stolen cellphones to the same person at the same car wash on June 30. Hatfield, 20, was arrested that day and charged with aggravated robbery and theft. Hatfield started 10 games last season and finished with 38 tackles, 1 interception and 9 pass breakups. He was expected to remain a starter in 2015.

• Pittsburgh Coach Pat Narduzzi has announced wide receiver Tyler Boyd and defensive end Rori Blair are suspended for the Sept. 5 opener against Youngstown State. Boyd, a 1,000-yard receiver in each of his first two seasons at Pitt, was charged with DUI in June. The All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection was pulled over in June south of Pittsburgh. Boyd told police he had two shots of alcohol. Blair, who led the Panthers with 5 1/2 sacks in 2014, was charged with driving under the influence of a drug after he was clocked at 117 mph in March. Narduzzi said the players will be subject to additional internal discipline. The first-year coach said the situations are “very disappointing” and that both players expressed remorse.

• Former college football television analyst Craig James on Monday filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against Fox Sports that contends he was fired because he had expressed opposition to gay marriage during a failed run for the U.S. Senate. The former running back for SMU and the New England Patriots is seeking at least $100,000 in damages. Fox hired him in August 2013 — months after he lost the Texas Senate primary to Ted Cruz — only to fire him days later. James filed his suit in Dallas County, where he is seeking a jury trial to hear claims against the network that include breach of contract and violations of state law. Fox Sports didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Monday on the lawsuit, and a Dallas attorney for the network did not immediately return a call for comment. James was a longtime color commentator for ESPN who quit to run for the Senate in 2012. During the campaign, James said he opposed gay marriage and that gay people would one day “have to answer to the Lord for their actions.”

BASKETBALL

Timberwolves sign Miller

The Minnesota Timberwolves have completed their one-year contract with veteran point guard Andre Miller. The deal was agreed to last week and announced Monday. Miller, 39, gives the Wolves a dependable, experienced player at a position with oft-injured starter Ricky Rubio and rookie Tyus Jones. This is Miller’s eighth NBA team in his 17th season in the league. He averaged 4.4 points, 3.5 assists and 15.5 minutes per game last season, playing for Washington and then Sacramento after being traded to the Kings. Only twice in his career has he played in fewer than 80 games: 2011-2012 with Denver and 2013-2014 with both the Nuggets and the Wizards. Miller leads all active players with 8,437 assists, putting him ninth all time.

TENNIS

Nishikori to play today

Kei Nishikori said his injured left calf is healed after taking time off following Wimbledon. Japan’s Nishikori is seeded No. 2 at the Citi Open hard-court tournament in Washington and, after a first-round bye, he will face Australia’s James Duckworth in the second round today. Nishikori, the runner-up at the U.S. Open in 2014, said Monday he is “feeling pretty well, actually” and that his leg is fine thanks to a week of rest after his early exit at the All England Club in early July. He withdrew before his second-round match at Wimbledon, citing a lingering problem with the calf. The Citi Open marks his first tournament since then. Duckworth advanced Monday by beating Ryan Harrison of the United States 6-1, 7-6 (4).

• Sixth-seeded Andrea Petkovic beat fellow German Carina Witthoeft in a first round match of the $731,000 Bank of the West Classic on Monday in Stanford, Calif. Petkovic won 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. American teenager CiCi Bellis lost her match to qualifier Misaki Doi, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Bellis was the youngest player in 15 years to win a match at the U.S. Open last year. Qualifier Nicole Gibbs, who won two NCAA singles titles while at Stanford, beat France’s Caroline Garcia 6-4, 7-5, for her first WTA main draw victory since April. American Alison Riske topped German Tatjana Maria 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 to earn a date with third-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro in the second round. Doi meets No. 2-seed Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday. World No. 1 and defending champion Serena Williams withdrew last week due to injury.

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