NFL Suspends Cloud for Steroid Violation

Running back Mike Cloud, an unrestricted free agent who had been with the Kansas City Chiefs, was suspended for the first four games of the 2003 season for violating the NFL’s steroid policy.

The league would not comment on the specifics of the violation, spokesman Greg Aiello said, citing the NFL’s confidentiality policy.

Cloud’s agent, Jonathan Feinsod, said a protein supplement caused his client to test positive for the banned steroid nandrolone late last season. He declined to name the supplement.

The suspension is for the first four games of the regular season, whether or not Cloud is with a team.

“If he signs after four games, there is no further suspension,” Aiello said.

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Tennessee Titan owner Bud Adams wants to sign Coach Jeff Fisher to a contract extension.

Fisher, 44, has led the Titans to the playoffs in three of the last four seasons and is 80-61 since taking over the then-Houston Oilers in November 1994.

Adams considers Fisher’s contract, signed in 2000, to be in the final year. A series of clauses could allow either side out of the deal or add the 2004 season.

Motor Racing

Jason Keller earned his first NASCAR Busch Grand National Series pole and fourth front-row start of the season, running a lap of 187.474 mph at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Stanton Barrett will start second in Saturday’s O’Reilly 300 at the 1 1/2-mile track after a lap of 186.916 mph. It will be the third time this season Keller and Barrett start their Fords on the front row.

Bobby Hamilton Jr. and Scott Riggs, who qualified in a backup car after crashing in practice, will be in the third and fourth positions Saturday.

Golf

A British cabinet minister urged the Royal & Ancient Golf Club to make sure there is no gender discrimination at all-male clubs playing host to the British Open.

Tessa Jowell, secretary of Culture, Media and Sport, stated in a letter to R&A; secretary Peter Dawson that “all events” held in conjunction with the British Open should be “open to both sexes.”

Royal St. George’s, the site of this year’s British Open, and Royal Troon, which will play host to the 2004 event, have no female members.

Jurisprudence

Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis sued Vitali Klitschko and the World Boxing Council, contending they brokered a deal to force him to defend the title against the Ukrainian boxer.

Lewis filed the suit Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court and requested an injunction.

The suit comes after he called off the April 12 fight with Klitschko, who filed a suit against the WBC that was later dropped.

Klitschko’s suit noted WBC rules that require the heavyweight champion to defend his title at least once a year. Under those rules, Lewis would have to defend his title by June 8.

WBC officials originally argued that Klitschko would have to fight an elimination bout before meeting Lewis. But Lewis’ suit said it would be difficult to arrange a fight with Klitschko before the deadline.

The woman accusing baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett of sexual assault testified that she was terrified and tried to escape when he dragged her into a restaurant bathroom last September in Minneapolis. She was the first witness called by prosecutors as the trial opened in Minneapolis for the former Minnesota Twin star.

Miscellany

Auburn freshman George Bovell set an NCAA record in the 200-yard individual medley to help the Tigers take the lead at the NCAA men’s swimming and diving championships in Austin, Texas.

He had a time of 1 minute 42.66 seconds, breaking the mark of 1:42.85 set by Nate Dusing of Texas in 2001.

USC’s Erik Vendt won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:13.63.

Auburn has 206 points, followed by Stanford (121), California (115), Texas (107), Florida (81) and USC (69).