Hamilton to retire after positive test

April 18, 2009

Olympic champion Tyler Hamilton, once touted as the next great American cyclist and an heir to Lance Armstrong's throne atop the sport, ended his doping-tarnished career yesterday by saying he tested positive for a banned substance and would retire. The Marblehead native admitted taking an herbal product for two days in February to combat depression, knowing it included a steroid. "There's nothing to fight about," said Hamilton, 38. "I took a banned substance. I accept the consequences." Hamilton will likely receive a ban from the US Anti-Doping Agency that may range from eight years to life, a sentence that would have ended his racing days anyway.

Less than a week after helping Boston University capture the fifth NCAA hockey championship in school history, Matt Gilroy and Colin Wilson are making the leap to the pros. Gilroy, a 24-year-old defenseman who won the Hobey Baker Award this season, agreed to a multiyear deal with the New York Rangers. Wilson, 19, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators, who drafted the forward seventh overall last year . . . Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn said both coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier will be back next season, calling it "absolutely the best move for our franchise" despite Buffalo missing the playoffs for a second straight year.

Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero has a torn muscle in his chest and will miss at least a month. The Angels sent the slugger to Los Angeles yesterday to be examined by noted team orthopedist Lewis Yocum, who found the pectoral tear. An MRI Thursday showed a strain . . . Royals third baseman Alex Gordon could be out for half the season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. Manager Trey Hillman said the recovery time is 10-12 weeks . . . Hideki Matsui's surgically repaired left knee has filled with fluid, prompting the Yankees to recall first baseman Juan Miranda from Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Manager Joe Girardi said Matsui would be limited to pinch hitting for a few days . . . The Mets placed catcher Brian Schneider on the 15-day DL because of a muscle strain in his back . . . UMass coach Mike Stone got his 600th career victory when the Minutemen beat Saint Joseph's, 3-0, in Amherst.

Helio Castroneves will be back on the track less than 24 hours after the Brazilian driver was acquitted of tax evasion charges. Penske Racing president Tim Cindric said the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner will return to his No. 3 IndyCar in time for practice and qualifying today for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in California. After six days of deliberation and a six-week trial in Miami, a jury acquitted the 33-year-old Castroneves, his sister and business manager Katiucia, and an attorney on tax evasion charges.

Trail Blazers center Greg Oden missed practice because of a sinus infection, and he'll be a game-time decision tonight when Portland hosts the Rockets in their NBA playoff opener . . . Top-ranked Rafael Nadal moved one step closer to his fifth straight final at the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco, defeating Ivan Ljubicic, 6-3, 6-3, in his second match of the day. Nadal also beat Nicolas Lapentti, 6-3, 6-0, in a rain-delayed third-round match. "I don't remember ever winning two singles matches in one day, only doubles," Nadal said. Also reaching the semifinals were fourth-seeded Andy Murray (Nadal's next opponent), No. 3 Novak Djokovic, and No. 13 Stanislas Wawrinka . . . Top-seeded Elena Dementieva advanced to the Family Circle Cup semifinals in Charleston, S.C., when Dominika Cibulkova quit in the second set because of a leg injury . . . World champion Evan Lysacek won the free skate, keeping the US in the lead at the World Team Trophy in Tokyo. With only the pairs and women's free skate remaining today, the US has 59 points, followed by Canada (53) and Japan (52) . . . Florida Derby winner Quality Road breezed three-quarters of a mile on Belmont Park's training track in 1:12.03, showing no apparent problems from a slight quarter crack in his right hind hoof as he prepared for next month's Kentucky Derby . . . ESPN will not renew the contract of columnist Stephen A. Smith after it ends May 1.