IOC has $4.8m tied to Madoff scam

The International Olympic Committee could lose nearly $5 million in investments tied to the Wall Street financier accused in a $50 billion financial scam. IOC finance commission chairman Richard Carrion said the Olympic body has about $4.8 million at risk in the alleged Ponzi scheme by Bernard Madoff. "That could be the maximum loss," Carrion said in a telephone interview from Puerto Rico, adding that the IOC's money wasn't directly in Madoff funds. "They're in funds invested in Madoff funds." IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said the Madoff affair would have "limited impact" on the IOC's overall finances. Carrion said the IOC has policies in place to limit major concentrations of money, but the Madoff scam caught the organization off guard.

LeBron James said he'll consider signing an extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer, well before he enters the free agent market in 2010. "You play out the season, of course; I will consider it," James told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer before the team practiced in Denver. "The direction we are headed is everything I expected and more." James, under contract for two more seasons, can become a free agent July 1, 2010 . . . Golden State Warriors small forward Stephen Jackson is expected to be out until Friday against the Celtics because of a sprained left hand. Jackson, averaging 18.6 points per game, aggravated the injury at the shootaround Friday and did not play that night against Atlanta . . . Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will miss at least three games because of a tear in the meniscus in his left knee suffered in Friday's 89-87 loss to the Miami Heat . . . Three days after Eric Gordon said several Indiana University players used illegal drugs last season, the Los Angeles Clippers rookie met with former Hoosiers coach Kelvin Sampson - now a Milwaukee assistant. Gordon said Sampson tried to curtail the drug use but struggled to stop it as he focused on helping the Hoosiers win.

The Carolina Panthers have placed right guard Keydrick Vincent on injured reserve, ending the starter's season because of a groin injury suffered a week ago. The Panthers promoted from the practice squad defensive tackle Nick Hayden, who will provide insurance because tackle Maake Kemoeatu is questionable tonight against New York Giants. Vincent had been the only Panthers offensive linemen to start all 14 games . . . Raiders receiver Ashley Lelie will miss the final two games of the season because of a calf injury, the fourth Oakland receiver placed on the season-ending injured reserve list this year. He joins Javon Walker (ankle), Drew Carter (knee), and rookie Arman Shields (knee). The team activated tight end Darrell Strong from the practice squad.

The Uruguayan Football Association suspended the final weekend of a tumultuous season because of ongoing fan violence. The association did not state when or if the final round of games would be played. In November, the season was suspended for 15 days after about 100 violent fans spilled onto the field during a game between Danubio and Nacional, prompting security officials to impose tighter restrictions on stadium conditions. Danubio and Nacional are tied at the top of the standings . . . David Beckham acknowledged that playing for AC Milan on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy is a gamble. Beckham, a former star for Manchester United and Real Madrid who just arrived in Milan, said the move fulfills his dream of playing with a top Italian team and his goal of staying in shape during the MLS offseason in an attempt to keep a spot on England's team.

Anthony Kim matched the best score of the week with a 5-under-par 67, taking a one-shot lead when Jim Furyk found the water for double bogey on the 18th hole at the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Kim was at 8-under 208 . . . Lee Westwood shot a 4-under 68 in Paarl, South Africa, to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the South African Open Championship. Westwood made four birdies in a bogey-free round to reach 14-under 202, while overnight leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France had a 72 and is tied for second with Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin (69) . . . In AHL action, the Portland Pirates beat visiting Providence, 4-2, to get within one point of the P-Bruins and first place in the Atlantic Division. Johnny Boychuk and Peter Schaefer scored in the loss . . . Megan Hodge had 16 kills and Penn State (38-0) ended its perfect season with a second straight NCAA volleyball championship, sweeping Stanford, 25-20, 26-24, 25-23, in Omaha . . . Dock Ellis, who infamously claimed he pitched a no-hitter for Pittsburgh under the influence of LSD and later fiercely spoke out against drug and alcohol addiction, died in California from a liver ailment. He was 63. Obituary, C19.