Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó An independent drug test on Jeremy Mayfield was negative for methamphetamines, contradicting the results of a NASCAR test taken 40 minutes earlier, the driver claimed in court documents filed Tuesday.
In response to NASCAR’s claim that Mayfield again tested positive for methamphetamines on July 6, Mayfield submitted an affidavit to the U.S. District Court that said he traveled to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory right after NASCAR collected a sample at his Catawba County home.
In a room he described as “very sterile,” Mayfield said he emptied his pockets, washed his hands and was ushered into a bathroom, where he provided another urine sample.
Mayfield said in the court filing he received confirmation from Laboratory Corporation of America in Raleigh that his sample was negative on July 10 ó the same day NASCAR informed his counsel that its sample was positive.
He said the results of his test are “consistent with my lifestyle as I have not and do not use or abuse methamphetamines. It is impossible for methamphetamine to be in my body as I have never consumed that substance.”
Dr. Harold Schueler of the Broward County (Fla.) Medical Examiner’s Officefiled an affidavit on behalf of Mayfield that claimed the levels of methamphetamine in NASCAR’s test are “astronomical” and “could be remotely accurate, unless Mr. Mayfield was deceased or a chronic abuser.”
n MILWAUKEE ó Six investor groups have expressed interest in taking over promotional rights for the historic and financially troubled Milwaukee Mile racetrack.CYCLINGBOURG-SAINT-MAURICE, France ó Lance Armstrong mustered one of his strongest showings yet at this Tour de France, a dazzling burst that allowed him to keep second place.
He was so buoyed by the performance that he suggested he could still contend for the yellow jersey if teammate Alberto Contador has a “bad day.”
Armstrong stressed he doesn’t expect that to happen and only a “big shake-up” would allow for such a scenario.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SUNSET, S.C. ó Dabo Swinney may be less “all in” as he starts his first full season as Clemson coach.
Swinney his organized staff and plan for the Tigers have led him to delegate more than he did during his six-game tryout as interim coach last season.
Swinney says he has confidence that first-year coordinator Kevin Steele can lead the defense and Billy Napier can call plays on offense.
n CLEMSON, S.C. ó Clemson is modeling its Heisman Trophy campaign for tailback C.J. Spiller after one used for William Perry.
Clemson planned to unveil a full-size growth poster promoting Spiller. The posters look similar to ones used when Perry was being promoted for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.
n KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee’s Lane Kiffin was satisfied after a meeting with his latest strength and conditioning coach that the rash of players injured during voluntary summer workouts was not from overtraining.
Kiffin met with Aaron Ausmus after four offensive players suffered injuries that will cause them to miss part or all of season ó or at least part of fall camp.
n KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee has launched an “Eric Berry for Heisman” campaign to promote the All-American safety.
The junior posted a Football Bowl Subdivision-best seven interceptions last season, returning them for a single-season SEC record 265 yards. He holds the SEC career record with 487 interception return yards and lacks only 15 yards to become the NCAA career leader.
n COLUMBIA, S.C. ó South Carolina’s home opener with Florida Atlantic on Sept. 19 will begin at 7 p.m.
The Gamecocks open the season Thursday, Sept. 3, at N.C. State. The game will be on ESPN.
n STATE COLLEGE, Pa. ó Penn State backup receiver James McDonald is off the football team after police charged him with drunken driving.
PRO FOOTBALLLAS VEGAS ó Former Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman signed with the Las Vegas franchise in the United Football League, which kicks off its first season in October.
Losman is the most notable player to sign with the fledgling UFL so far. The Las Vegas team will be coached by former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel.
ESPNHARTFORD, Conn. ó ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was secretly videotaped in the nude while she was alone in a hotel room and the video was posted on the Internet, her attorney confirmed.
The blurry, five-minute video shows Andrews standing in front of a hotel room mirror. Andrews’ attorney, Marshall Grossman, said she decided to confirm it “to put an end to rumor and speculation and to put the perpetrator and those who are complicit on notice that they act at their peril.”
Andrews plans to seek criminal charges and file civil lawsuits against the person who shot the video and anyone who publishes the material, Grossman said.
n BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ó SEC football and basketball games not shown on ESPN networks will be available in more than 54 million homes on the SEC Network, the new name for the league’s syndication deal with ESPN.
The two announced that the SEC Network will be available in at least 47 percent of the country.
HOCKEYTAMPA, Fla. ó Tampa Bay and Phoenix have completed a three-player trade with the Lighting sending right wing Radim Vrbata to the Coyotes for left wing Todd Fedoruk and defenseman David Hale.
n OTTAWA ó Now that the Senators have signed Alex Kovalev, general manager Bryan Murray wants to focus on bringing back disgruntled Dany Heatley.
n EDMONTON, Alberta ó The Oilers re-signed defenseman Denis Grebeshkov to a one-year contract.
n MONTREAL ó The Canadiens avoided salary arbitration with center Tomas Plekanec, signing him to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million.
n BOSTON ó The Bruins and defenseman Matt Hunwick reached a deal for two years and $2.9 million.
n ST. LOUIS ó The Blues re-signed defenseman Steve Wagner.
GOLFBOWLING GREEN, Ohio ó Ed Platzer of Bowling Green knocked in a left-handed hole-in-one last month, 15 years after he hit a right-handed ace.
Platzer says he’s a natural lefty but learned to play right-handed when he couldn’t find left-handed clubs. He started hitting from the left side four years ago when he found the right clubs.
The United States Golf Register couldn’t find anyone who has matched Platzer’s achievement in its database that covers the past 13 years.BASEBALL TRIALDAYTON, Ohio ó A minor-league pitcher accused of throwing a baseball during a brawl that struck and injured a fan in the stands had been angry and decided to hurt someone, a prosecutor said.
In opening statements during the trial of Julio Castillo, assistant Montgomery County prosecutor Jon Marshall said the evidence will show that Castillo, 22, of the Dominican Republic, committed felonious assault.