Cycling
Governing body set for lance ruling
AIGLE, Switzerland — The final word on Lance Armstrong's seven Tour de France titles could come Monday when cycling's governing body gives its response to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report that paints him as a longtime drug cheat.
Governing body president Pat McQuaid will hold a news conference, the group said Friday.
The group received the agency's 200-page report last week after its release and has until month's end to decide whether to ratify the agency's decision to ban Armstrong and strip him of all results to 1998 or appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Armstrong denies he doped.
'Difficult weeks' for armstrong: Armstrong said he has had a "difficult couple of weeks" and told supporters of his cancer-fighting charity its mission is "bigger than me" in remarks at Livestrong's 15th anniversary celebration in Austin, Texas. He stepped down as chairman Wednesday in an effort to ward off damage caused by the doping charges. The event drew 1,700 people; they gave him a standing ovation before he spoke. Armstrong did not address the doping charges.
More fallout: At least 15 more cyclists have been linked to the doctor named as Armstrong's doping mastermind in a scheme of money laundering, tax evasion and doping. Former Giro d'Italia winners Michele Scarponi and Denis Menchov, and 2012 Olympic road race champion Alexandre Vinokourov are being investigated for doping under Dr. Michele Ferrari, Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport reported. All deny wrongdoing. … Dutch bank Rabobank will end its pro team sponsorships at 2012's end after 17 years because, it said, trust in cycling is gone in the wake of the antidoping agency's report.
WNBA
Indiana sits one win from title
Shavonte Zellous scored a career-high 30 to help host Indiana beat Minnesota 76-59 and take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Finals. Indiana can win its first title at home Sunday.
"I was fired up for this game," Zellous said. "That Game 2 (an 83-71 loss Wednesday) left a bad taste in our mouth. We could have done a better job in a lot of different things, and I think (Friday) we made a conscious effort to do things better."
Rebekkah Brunson, with 12 points, was the only Minnesota player to reach double figures.
Minnesota coach fined: Cheryl Reeve was fined by the league for a coat-throwing outburst after getting a technical foul in Game 2. The amount wasn't disclosed.
Et cetera
Tennis: Tampa resident Sam Stosur and Ana Ivanovic won in straight sets to set up a semifinal showdown at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Caroline Wozniacki beat defending champ Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-7 (1-7), 6-1. … Rafael Nadal, sidelined with a knee injury since June, expects to return before the Australian Open in January, his trainer and uncle, Toni Nadal, said.
Figure skating: U.S. pairs champions Caydee Denney of Wesley Chapel and John Coughlin were third after the short program at Skate America in Kent, Wash.
Times wires
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