Briefs: Jones linked to illegal check ring

Track and field

Marion Jones linked to check-counterfeiting ring: Former gold medalist sprinter Marion Jones, now in the midst of a spirited comeback, has been linked to what authorities describe as a $5 million check-counterfeiting ring in which money was laundered through Norfolk, Va.

Jones received a $25,000 check from one of the defendants in the case, a Norfolk businessman, and deposited it into her Wachovia Bank account last year, according to court records. Twelve people have been indicted in the New York-based case.

Jones has not been charged, but two other people who received checks from the same account were indicted, and one of them pleaded guilty. Two associates of Jones also have been indicted: former boyfriend Tim Montgomery and Steve Riddick, her track coach, both Norfolk State University alumni.

Jones was competing this week in Europe and was not available for comment, said her Dallas attorney.

Coach found guilty in scheme to pay athletes: A former Barton County Community College coach was found guilty in Wichita, Kan., for his part in a scheme to illegally pay athletes for work they didn't perform.

Lance Brauman, 36, was found guilty of one count of embezzlement, one count of theft and three counts of mail fraud for using the federal work-study program and campus jobs to get around a conference ban on giving athletes full-ride scholarships, as well as causing false academic credentials to be sent to Arkansas for an athlete.

High schools

Oden, Charles named national prep athletes of year: Basketball players Greg Oden of Indianapolis and Tina Charles of New York City were honored as the Gatorade high-school athletes of the year.

Oden averaged 22 points in leading Lawrence North High School to its third consecutive Indiana Class 4A state championship.

Charles averaged 26.5 points in leading Christ the King to its second consecutive undefeated season and the New York Class AA state title.

College football

Former USC receiver lands at Northern Iowa: Former USC wide receiver Whitney Lewis is expected to enroll at Division I-AA Northern Iowa and play for the Panthers this season. Lewis, rated higher than Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush in many recruiting publications during USC's class of 2003, will have two years of eligibility left.

Gopher not returning: Minnesota running back Gary Russell won't return to the team this year. That leaves the Gophers without both of their 1,000-yard rushers from last season, since Laurence Maroney left early for the NFL. Russell has had academic trouble.

Tennis

Henin-Hardenne withdraws from Fed Cup: Wimbledon runner-up Justine Henin-Hardenne has withdrawn from Belgium's team for this weekend's Fed Cup semifinal against the United States. She cited exhaustion.

Philippoussis triumphs: Mark Philippoussis advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hall of Fame championships in Newport, R.I., with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Rik De Voest.

Serena returns next week: Serena Williams will play her first match in six months when she returns to the tour at the Cincinnati hard-court tournament next week. A chronic left-knee injury has prevented her from playing since the Australian Open in January.

Doping

Olympic discus champion faces ban: Olympic discus champion Natalya Sadova of Russia faces a two-year ban after testing positive for steroids at a meet in the Netherlands on May 28. Sadova, 33, won gold in Athens with a throw of 219 feet, 10 inches.

Puerta's suspension reduced: Argentinian tennis player Mariano Puerta's eight-year doping ban was reduced to two years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. CAS ruled Puerta had "inadvertently" ingested etilefrine by drinking from a glass his wife had used to take a medication called "Effortil." It was his second doping offense.

Skiing

Koznick calls it quits: Kristina Koznick, who overcame a devastating knee injury to make it down the Olympic slalom course in Italy earlier this year, retired after three Olympics and more than a decade of world-class racing. The 30-year-old Minnesotan finishes with six wins on the World Cup circuit and five U.S. slalom championships.

Seattle Times news services