Masseur denies drugging Gatlin

An Oregon massage therapist who has worked with Olympian Marion Jones and other elite athletes denies using a cream containing testosterone on American sprinter Justin Gatlin, who could face a lifetime ban after testing positive. Christopher Whetstine, who is under contract to Nike, was drawn into the Gatlin doping scandal by the sprinter's coach, Trevor Graham. Graham has contended Gatlin tested positive in April after a vengeful massage therapist used testosterone cream on the runner without his knowledge. ``Trevor Graham is not speaking on behalf of Justin Gatlin, and the statement about me is not true," Whetstine said in a statement read over the phone by his attorney, Elizabeth Baker. "I have fully cooperated with the investigation into this matter."

The attorney for cyclist Floyd Landis took issue with the international cycling federation for leaking the results of the Tour de France winner's positive "A" sample drug test, saying it breached the organization's rules. Results of the second or "B" sample are set to be released Saturday and attorney Howard Jacobs said until they are made known, ``there is not even a formal doping charge that has been filed against Mr. Landis." Jacobs said he was troubled by the actions of the UCI, and how they have spoken out, in direct contravention of the UCI's rules and the World Anti-Doping Code.

Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood has decided against having surgery to repair his injured right shoulder and will miss the rest of the year with a partially torn rotator cuff. He hopes to come back next season as a reliever . . . Catcher Mike Matheny has made little progress in his recovery from a concussion and will not play again this season for San Francisco . . . The Orioles' Kris Benson experienced a setback in his effort to rebound from tendinitis in his right elbow, leaving open the possibility the righthander could be headed for the 15-day disabled list . . . Major League Baseball suspended infielder Marcos Chavez and pitcher Jonathan Gonzalez of the St. Louis Cardinals' organization 50 games each for violating the drug prevention and treatment program. The pair played in the Venezuelan Summer League.

Buffalo Sabres forward J.P. Dumont was awarded a one-year, $2.9 million salary by an NHL arbitrator. A seven-year veteran, Dumont received a $1.3 million raise over his salary last season . . . Jonathan Toews, the No. 3 pick in the NHL draft, will return to the University of North Dakota for his sophomore season instead of joining the Chicago Blackhawks . . . The Carolina Hurricanes signed right wing Jesse Boulerice to a one-year contract. He will earn $450,000 at the NHL level and $75,000 at the American Hockey League level . . . The Blues signed slick forward Martin Rucinsky, who scored 16 goals for the Rangers last season . . . The Rangers and defenseman Fedor Tyutin agreed to terms on a two-year contract . . . The Providence Bruins will open their 15th season Oct. 7 against the Portland Pirates at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Maine. Providence's first home game, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, is Oct. 13 against the Worcester Sharks . . . New Jersey state trooper James Harney, charged with running a gambling ring, resigned from the state police. Authorities say he helped former hockey star Rick Tocchet and a third man run a gambling ring whose bettors included several current NHL players and Janet Jones, the wife of Wayne Gretzky.

The mother of a Brazilian soccer player was freed by police shortly after being kidnapped. Noemia de Carvalho Correa, mother of Santos defender Kleber, was rescued unharmed nearly two hours after being kidnapped in Sao Paulo, according to the Sao Paulo State Public Safety Department . . . Alejandro Moreno scored two first-half goals to lead the host Houston Dynamo to a 4-2 win over the Carolina Dynamo in the fourth round of the US Open Cup.

Michael Phelps was a double winner in the US Summer National swimming championships in Irvine, Calif., and was 0.02 seconds off his world record in the 200-meter butterfly, winning in 1 minute 54.32 seconds. Phelps also won the 200 freestyle in 1:45.63 . . . Germany's Britta Steffen set a world record in the women's 100-meter freestyle at the European Swimming Championships in Budapest, finishing in 53.30 seconds . . . Mary Pierce held off Sybille Bammer, 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-4), in Carlsbad, Calif., in the second round of the Acura Classic. Top-seeded Kim Clijsters advanced with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Samantha Stosur. Nadia Petrova was upset by Anna Chakvetadze, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 . . . A federal judge ruled against tennis star Maria Sharapova, saying a Florida production company was entitled to market a documentary on her despite her agents' attempts to halt distribution. US District Judge Donald Middlebrooks said Byzantium Productions Inc. documentaries did not violate trademark laws . . . The New England Riptide squeezed past the Arizona Heat, 2-1 in a National Pro Fastpitch game in Lowell . . . Saratoga and Suffolk Downs canceled their racing cards because of the heat and humidity.