North Korean women in doping scandal North Korea officials blamed traditional musk deer gland medicine for five positive tests for steroids at the Women’s World Cup, the biggest soccer doping scandal at a major tournament in 17 years. After two players were caught during the tournament this month, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the world soccer governing body took the unprecedented step of testing the rest of the North Korean squad and found three more positive results. “This is a shock,’’ Blatter said. “We are confronted with a very, very bad case of doping and it hurts.’’ A North Korean delegation told Blatter and the head of FIFA’s medical committee that the steroids were accidentally taken with traditional Chinese medicines based on deer glands . . . In Major League Soccer, Fredy Montero scored his third goal in two games to keep the host Seattle Sounders unbeaten in their last nine matches with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rapids . . . San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch and counterpart William Hesmer made several crucial saves as the Earthquakes and host Columbus Crew played to a scoreless tie . . . Aurelien Collin scored late in the second half and Sporting Kansas City extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games with a 1-1 draw with the Dynamo at Houston . . . Jack Jewsbury scored on a penalty kick to lift the Portland Timbers to a 1-0 win over the host Chicago Fire . . . Bill Hamid finished with three saves to help D.C. United to a scoreless draw against host FC Dallas night . . . Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy made three saves in a 0-0 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Carson, Calif. . . . The Whitecaps-Real Salt Lake game at Vancouver, British Columbia was postponed because of unplayable field conditions.

Shaq’s ex-friend files explosive lawsuit A former friend of Shaquille O’Neal’s filed a civil lawsuit accusing the future Hall of Famer of ordering him to commit murders, TMZ.com reported. In documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Robert Ross, a former gang member, claims O’Neal asked him to perform many personal favors, among them: murdering a gang member, a record producer, and a woman O’Neal impregnated. The documents don’t say whether the orders were carried out. O’Neal’s lawyer, Michael J. Kump, told TMZ, “The outlandish claims by Robert Ross in his civil complaint are pure fiction. Shaquille O’Neal befriended Mr. Ross in an attempt to help turn his life around. Sadly, Mr. Ross abused that friendship again and again.’’ O’Neal’s agent, Perry Rogers, declined to comment when reached by the Globe . . . In the WNBA, Angel McCoughtry’s 24 points led the host Atlanta Dream to a 76-68 win over the Chicago Sky . . . Seimone Augustus scored 19 points as the host Minnesota Lynx topped the Seattle Storm, 69-62.

Cannons fall apart in the second half Matt Poskay scored three goals but the Boston Cannons blew a 5-0 lead and fell to the Long Island Lizards, 12-11, in Major League Lacrosse action at Hempstead, N.Y. The Cannons (6-2) scored just once in the second half . . . In World TeamTennis, the Boston Lobsters dropped a 25-18 decision in overtime to the Washington Kastles at Middleton . . . PGA Tour rookie Chris Kirk, 26, shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Viking Classic at Madison, Miss. . . . Oregon hired a high-profile law firm as questions mount about the Ducks’ $25,000 payment to a Texas-based recruiting service. The NCAA is investigating what appears to be an inflated payment to so-called street agent Willie Lyles of Complete Scouting Services in Houston. At issue is whether Lyles helped steer a highly recruited football player to Oregon.