ITF probes suspected Haas poisoning

The International Tennis Federation is investigating allegations that Tommy Haas was poisoned before Germany's Davis Cup match against Russia. Haas was forced out of his match against Mikhail Youzhny with a suspected stomach virus. Russia won both reverse singles matches Sept. 23 to win the semifinal series, 3-2, and reach the Davis Cup final. "We take this very seriously," ITF spokeswoman Barbara Travers said yesterday. "The investigation starts today." German teammate Alexander Waske said he was told by a Russian who manages numerous athletes that it was poisoning, not a virus. "He said as an aside, that it was bitter that Tommy Haas was poisoned," said Waske, who answered the man by saying that it was a virus. "Thereupon he said, 'No, they poisoned him.' " Said Haas, ranked 13th in the world, "I'm shocked that something like that appears possible." . . . Serena Williams retired with a left knee injury after one set and defending champion Justine Henin advanced to the semifinals at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid. Henin cruised past Jelena Jankovic, 6-2, 6-2, at the season-ending tournament. Ana Ivanovic knocked out Daniela Hantuchova with a 6-2, 7-6 (11-9) win in round-robin play. Williams retired after losing the first set, 6-4, to seventh-ranked Anna Chakvetadze.

Any athletes in line to get medals given up by Marion Jones must have no drug history themselves or the honors could be withheld. "This is not going to be an automatic upgrade," International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge said from London. The decision by Rogge means Greek sprinter Katerina Thanou - at the center of her own drug scandal at the 2004 Athens Games - may not receive the 100-meter gold medal Jones won at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "Every potential upgraded athlete will be scrutinized on his or her merits," Rogge said. "We want to upgrade athletes if we are absolutely sure that they are clean." Jones, who won three gold medals and two bronze in Sydney, confessed last month to using performance-enhancing drugs before the 2000 Olympics. Rogge did not elaborate on how the IOC would determine whether athletes were clean at the time . . . In Lausanne, Switzerland, Olympic champion Ian Thorpe has been cleared of doping charges by swimming's world governing body, said FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu.

Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas's surgically repaired knee was drained for the second time in three weeks, forcing him to miss practice for a third consecutive day. Still, coach Eddie Jordan expects Arenas to play against New Jersey tomorrow night . . . The Phoenix Suns will host the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. Commissioner David Stern will make the announcement today at US Airways Center . . . Indiana Pacers forward Ike Diogu tore his left calf muscle during practice and will likely be out 4-6 weeks . . . The WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury promoted assistant coach Corey Gaines to head coach, replacing Paul Westhead, who recommended him for the job after leaving to join the Seattle SuperSonics.

Northeastern senior running back Maurice Murray, Southern Connecticut redshirt sophomore RB Jarom Freeman, and Curry junior quarterback Ryan Van De Giesen received this week's Gold Helmets from the New England College Football Writers Association. Murray churned out 206 yards and three touchdowns on a school-record 55 carries, one shy of the college subdivision record, in the Huskies' 31-13 upset win at New Hampshire to earn Division 1 honors. Williams rushed for an NCAA Division 2 single-game record of 418 yards on 34 rushes as SC pounded Northeast-10 leader Bryant, 56-28. Van De Giesen passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more as Curry capped a 10-0 regular season with a 40-25 victory over UMass-Dartmouth . . . Jimmy Clausen is back as Notre Dame's starting QB. The freshman, who lost his starting job after struggling vs. Boston College Oct. 13, will start Saturday against Air Force. Evan Sharpley started the last two games . . . In men's soccer, Cincinnati beat host Providence, 2-0, in the first round of the Big East tournament; in Springfield, Dan Hare scored the winner 2:11 into overtime as Western New England College rallied for a 2-1 victory over Johnson & Wales in a first-round match in the Division 3 tournament; in a game in which 37 fouls were called, host Framingham State beat Colby-Sawyer, 2-1, in the opening round of the ECAC Division 3 tournament . . . In women's soccer, Florida State's Katrin Schmidt scored in the 72d minute as No. 3 seed Florida State beat sixth-seeded Boston College, 1-0, in the ACC tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Nicole Hanewich's goal and two assists lifted host Springfield over Husson, 3-0, in the first round of the Division 3 tournament.

First-year coach Preki was voted Major League Soccer's coach of the year, earning the honor after guiding Chivas USA to the second-best record in MLS. Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu was chosen rookie of the year . . . For their contributions of outstanding service to hockey in the United States, Brian Leetch and Cammi Granato, the greatest US women's hockey player, were honored as recipients of the Lester Patrick Award in New York. Leetch, a recently retired defenseman who played most of his career with the New York Rangers and one season with the Bruins, was a three-time US Olympian . . . Any Given Saturday, winner of the Grade I Haskell Invitational over Hard Spun and Curlin, has been retired and will stand at stud at Darley at Jonabell in Lexington, Ky. The stud fee will be $40,000.