Fehr: No drug test tip-offs were given

Donald Fehr, the Major League Baseball Players Association's executive director, denied allegations that his No. 2 official gave players advance notice of drug tests in 2004. Questions about the 2003 testing intensified after Sports Illustrated reported last weekend that Alex Rodriguez was one of 104 players who tested positive that year. Rodriguez admitted yesterday to using banned drugs. "Any allegations that [MLBPA chief operating officer] Gene Orza or any other MLBPA official acted improperly are wrong," Fehr said in a statement. Fehr said the union received test results Nov. 11, 2003, and that players were notified three days later. "Promptly thereafter, the first steps were taken to begin the process of destruction of the testing materials and records," Fehr said. "On Nov. 19, however, we learned that the government had issued a subpoena. Upon learning this, we concluded, of course, that it would be improper to proceed with the destruction of the materials." . . . Federal prosecutors are again asking a judge in San Francisco to let them show a jury three drug test results they say show Barry Bonds used steroids. The judge, Susan Illston, said last week she was inclined to throw out those results unless someone could directly testify to collecting the slugger's urine samples . . . The St. Louis Cardinals released second baseman Adam Kennedy . . . Catcher Dioner Navarro went to a salary arbitration hearing with the Tampa Bay Rays, arguing he should get $2.5 million rather than the team's $2.1 million offer . . . Rays reliever Chad Bradford is expected to be sidelined 3-4 months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow . . . Righthander Jeff Weaver agreed to a minor-league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers after taking last season off.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have no knowledge that Ben Roethlisberger played the Super Bowl with two broken ribs, as the quarterback told a website. According to SI.com, Roethlisberger said his fractured ribs did not show up on X-rays taken before he led the Steelers to a 27-23 win over Arizona Feb. 1, but were revealed only during an MRI he had last week . . . The New York Jets hired Matt Cavanaugh as their quarterbacks coach . . . As expected, troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was released by the Dallas Cowboys and became a free agent . . . Facing felony gun charges after he accidentally shot himself in the leg with a .40-caliber Glock at a Manhattan nightclub in November, New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress has been sued at least nine times by people who said he failed to pay a debt, damaged their car, or didn't pay his taxes, the Associated Press reported . . . Backup quarterback Luke McCown re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . . . The Giants re-signed David Carr to back up quarterback Eli Manning . . . Former linebacker Roman Phifer, a member of three Super Bowl-winning teams with the Patriots, was hired as an assistant coach by the Denver Broncos. In his first coaching assignment, Phifer will assist Don Martindale coaching the linebackers . . . Mel Kaufman, a linebacker who played in three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins, died at 50 Saturday in California. An autopsy was scheduled for tomorrow . . . Boston College coach Frank Spaziani put some finishing touches on his staff as he announced the hiring of Dave Brock as tight ends coach and Sean Devine as offensive line coach. Brock was offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Kansas State last season. Devine was New Hampshire's offensive coordinator the past two seasons . . . Utah's state senate adopted a resolution it wants sent to President Barack Obama urging the NCAA to abandon the Bowl Championship Series in favor of a playoff system.

Former Celtics center Al Jefferson, the cornerstone of the Minnesota Timberwolves' rebuilding plan, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. The team's leading scorer and rebounder hurt his knee late in Sunday's loss to New Orleans . . . Cleveland swingman Sasha Pavlovic could miss six weeks after sustaining a high ankle sprain in the Cavaliers' loss to the Lakers Sunday . . . Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Terry had surgery to stabilize a fracture in his left hand.

A 7-year-old Scottish deerhound named Tiger Woods, whose owner is a golfer, won the hound group as the Westminster Kennel Club dog show got underway at New York's Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protested outside the building. PETA contends that the American Kennel Club promotes pure breeding of dogs that is harmful to their health . . . Controversial winger Sean Avery cleared waivers, and the next step for the Dallas Stars is to find a team for which he can start playing again . . . The St. Louis Blues signed center Andy McDonald to a four-year, $18.8 million contract extension . . . The Columbus Blue Jackets are hoping standout rookie goaltender Steve Mason (mononucleosis) will return to the lineup Friday night . . . Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Mike Smith, who has missed three games, is suffering from post-concussion syndrome but may be able to return to the ice within a week . . . The Revolution are offering ardent supporters a $200 season ticket for standing room seats in "The Fort" at the north end of Gillette Stadium . . . Midfielder Christian Gomez and keeper Mike Graczyk were traded to D.C. United by Colorado for midfielder/defender Ivan Guerrero . . . Two-time US Open champ Tracy Austin will join Anna Kournikova for mixed doubles matches during the Champions Cup Boston tennis championships Saturday at Agganis Arena.