In brief: IOC strips medals from Jones’ relay teammates

Marion Jones gave up her Olympic medals. Her relay teammates aren’t quite as willing.

Jones’ former relay teammates paid for her doping offenses Thursday, losing their medals from the 2000 Sydney Olympics as the International Olympic Committee stripped them from athletes who won gold with Jones in the 1,600-meter relay and bronze in the 400 relay.

Jones’ teammates in the 1,600 were Jearl-Miles Clark, Monique Hennagan, LaTasha Colander-Richardson and Andrea Anderson. The 400-relay had Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, Nanceen Perry and Passion Richardson.

The runners have previously refused to give up their medals, saying it would be wrong to punish them for Jones’ violations. They have hired a U.S. lawyer to defend their case, which could wind up in the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The IOC ruling follows the admission by Jones last year that she was doping at the time of the Sydney Games.

NASCAR

Newman wins pole

Winning poles never gets old for Ryan Newman, NASCAR’s Rocketman.

Still smarting from the indignity of being penalized 25 points after his fourth-place car was found to be an eighth of an inch too high after last Sunday’s race at Texas, Newman bounced back with his 43rd career pole.

The Daytona 500 winner will start Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 from the front, a solid chance to get back to Victory Lane.

Newman has won at least one pole in each of his eight seasons in NASCAR and moved into a tie with NASCAR pioneer Buck Baker for 10th on the career qualifying list.

Newman’s fast lap on the mile Phoenix oval was 133.457 mph, just 0.045 faster than runner-up Elliott Sadler’s 133.412.

Carl Edwards (133.378) was third, followed by Mark Martin (133.368), Kasey Kahne (133.304).

Hockey

BC back into final, will play Notre Dame

Nathan Gerbe’s hat trick helped Boston College advance to its third straight Frozen Four title game.

John Muse stopped 29 shots and the Eagles rode a four-goal opening period to a 6-1 victory over the Fighting Sioux at Denver.

The Eagles have beaten North Dakota the last three years in the semifinal round, but haven’t won a national title since 2001.

In the other semifinal, Notre Dame beat heavily-favored Michigan 5-4 after Calle Ridderwall punched the puck past freshman Wolverine goalie Bryan Hogan 5:44 into overtime. “The United States beat Canada 4-2 to set up a Saturday title-game rematch with the Canadians in the women’s world hockey championship at Harbin, China.

Miscellany

Jets extend Rhodes

The New York Jets signed 25-year-old safety Kerry Rhodes to a five-year extension for $33.5 million, including $20 million guaranteed, according to various media reports. “Former Minnesota Vikings great Carl Eller was charged with two felonies after a scuffle with police officers trying to arrest him for possible drunken driving in Minneapolis.

“A decision on a new contract for Penn State’s Joe Paterno is on hold until the end of this season, when the 81-year-old coach’s current deal expires, University president Graham Spanier told the Associated Press.

“Top-ranked women’s golfer Lorena Ochoa is tied with South Korea’s Song-Hee Kim for the top spot at the Corona Championships in Morelia, Mexico, shooting 66s.

“Sacramento State hired Brian Katz as its men’s basketball coach, ending a month-long search for Jerome Jenkins’ replacement.

“American Jessica Hardy, 21, set a record in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke (29.58 seconds) at the short-course swimming world championships at Manchester, England.

“The NCAA is no longer considering a fourth division for its smallest members.