Overtime

Horse Racing

Breeders' Cup fix ends in guilty plea

The man who nearly collected $3 million on a Pix Six bet from the Breeders' Cup admitted in federal court Thursday that the wager was rigged.

Derrick Davis, 29, of Baltimore pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Fox scheduled sentencing for March 11 and said prosecutors had recommended a prison term of no more than three years, 10 months.

The plea ended the prosecution of Davis and two of his Drexel University fraternity brothers who exploited a flaw in the bet-processing computer system.

A urine sample from thoroughbred Marks Minor, trained by Zito, tested positive for lidocaine 38 minutes after the horse finished second in an Aug. 2, 2000, race.

Racing rules forbid giving a horse lidocaine, used to control an irregular heartbeat and reduce pain, within one week of a race.

Auto Racing

'Earnhardt Law' is tested again in Fla.

Two newspapers have filed an appeal challenging the constitutionality of a law restricting access to autopsy photos.

The Orlando Sentinel and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel filed a brief Wednesday in the 4th District Court of Appeals challenging the constitutionality of the Family Protection Act, passed after Dale Earnhardt's death.

Under the law, unauthorized people who view or copy autopsy photos can be fined $5,000 for committing a felony. Proponents of the law say it protects families from seeing their relative's autopsy photos published or placed on the Internet.

The newspapers argue that the law - which was championed by Earnhardt's wife, Teresa - is too broad and will restrict the use of autopsy photos for teaching purposes.

Olympics

Agency receives anti-doping response

The World Anti-Doping Agency received 67 comments on the second draft of its proposed global anti-doping code for international sports. The code, which would be the first set of universal doping rules, is scheduled to be completed at an international anti-doping conference in March in Copenhagen, Denmark.

WADA president Dick Pound, also is a top International Olympic Committee official, wants the code in place for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Pound also wants governments of all Olympic nations to adopt the code, which means professional leagues such as major league baseball, the NFL, NBA and NHL would come under the regulations.

Boxing

Duran Jr. returning after accident rehab

Roberto Duran Jr. will return to the ring after taking one year off following a serious car accident with his famous father. Duran faces Joe Sanchez in a scheduled four-round welterweight bout tonight, the fifth fight in his two-year professional career.

Duran and his father were in a car accident in Argentina in October 2001. The elder Duran broke his ribs, punctured a lung and was hospitalized for two months, forcing him to finally retire from the sport. The younger Duran was bruised in the accident.

WNBA

Portland franchise waits for an owner

The Portland Fire expect to find out next week whether Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen will buy the team. If not, the future looks bleak for another WNBA franchise.

"We're running out of time," said Sandi Bittler, the Fire's vice president of business operations.

Allen and the Blazers are expected to let the Fire know their decision next week.