IN BRIEF

DOPING AND SPORTS

Man arrested for having huge steroid stockpile

A man arrested in Tampa, Fla., with thousands of anabolic steroid pills told investigators he sold to professional athletes, including players on the Washington Nationals and Capitals, authorities said Wednesday.

Richard Thomas boasted about selling steroids to professional baseball, hockey and football players, saying, "You name the sport, and I've sold steroids to athletes who play it," the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Authorities said Thomas didn't name specific players, and they have no evidence he sold to members of those teams.

Investigators who searched Thomas' house in Lakeland, Fla., on Tuesday recovered thousands of anabolic steroid pills, injectable liquids and syringes, with an estimated wholesale value of $100,000, said Carrie Eleazer, a spokeswoman with the sheriff's office.

Thomas and his wife, Sandra, were charged with several counts of possession of illegal steroids, firearms, and maintaining a dwelling for drug use. Thomas and his wife were booked into the Polk County Jail on $215,000 bond each.

Sandra Thomas posted bond and was released Wednesday. Richard Thomas remained in jail and was expected to appear in court today.

FOOTBALL

NFLPA to appeal ruling in drug suspensions

The NFL Players Association plans to appeal a judge's ruling in the case of five players facing suspensions over positive drug tests.

The union filed its notice of appeal with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The players association wants the appeals court to reconsider a judge's dismissal last week of a lawsuit filed by the union on behalf of Vikings defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams, and three New Orleans Saints, Charles Grant and Will Smith, plus Deuce McAllister, who was released after last season.

Also: Buffalo Bills starting cornerback Terrence McGee hurt his right arm when he tumbled to the turf while defending receiver Terrell Owens during a voluntary minicamp practice.

McGee was hurt about 30 minutes into the 90-minute session and did not return after entering the trainer's room. Bills coach Dick Jauron did not have an update on the player's injury following practice.

New York Jets running back Thomas Jones rejoined his teammates after boycotting voluntary workouts while in a contract dispute. Jones led the AFC with 1,312 yards rushing last season.

The agent for Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison said the player's 2-year-old son was released from a Pittsburgh hospital after an attack last week by his father's pit bull.

Beginning in 2010, ballots in the final regular-season USA Today coaches' college football poll will be kept confidential -- one of a handful of changes on tap for the poll that helps decide who plays in the BCS national championship game.

Richard Goodman, a senior wide receiver at Florida State, will face a felony battery charge for his involvement in a November 2008 on-campus fight between football players and members of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

Goodman, 22, surrendered to campus police Tuesday.

MISCELLANEOUS

IBF champion Dawson decides to vacate title

Light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson opted to vacate his IBF title after the organization refused to grant an exception to an immediate defense against mandatory challenger Tavoris Cloud.

Promoter Gary Shaw informed the IBF of Dawson's decision at its annual convention in Panama City, Panama.

"No major television network was willing to buy the fight, (and) the IBF left us little choice," Shaw said in a statement. "I respect the IBF's decision, but the fight they were forcing us to do was commercially unviable."

Dawson (28-0, 17 knockouts) easily defended his IBF and IBO titles in a rematch against Antonio Tarver this month at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Also: Lance Armstrong's solo attack petered out after a few miles, and the seven-time Tour de France winner finished 10th in the 52-mile 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia, 1 minute, 59 seconds behind stage winner Franco Pellizotti.

When Armstrong attacked on the uphill finish to Blockhaus, Italy, he left the race leaders behind and got as close as 25 yards behind leader Pellizotti.

Armstrong remained 12th in the overall standings, 12:17 behind leader Denis Menchov.

Prosecutors in Newark, N.J., asked a judge to sentence Jayson Williams for covering up a fatal shooting at his mansion in 2002 and cited the former NBA star's recent erratic behavior, including an assault arrest in North Carolina.

Williams, 41, was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in 2004 but convicted on four counts of trying to cover up the shooting of a hired driver at his mansion. The jury couldn't reach a verdict on a reckless manslaughter count, and State Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman has delayed sentencing pending Williams' retrial on that charge.

Clemson starting guard Terrence Oglesby, who averaged 13.2 points per game last season and made a team-leading 92 3-pointers, said he's giving up his final two seasons of eligibility to play professionally in Europe.

Kentucky basketball recruit John Wall pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor breaking and entering charge in Raleigh, N.C., and entered a program for first offenders, which could lead to having his record cleared.

Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy won't be coming back to Colorado to try to lead the Avalanche back to respectability.

Roy said he rejected an offer to coach the Avalanche. Both sides had refused for weeks to confirm that Roy had been offered Tony Granato's coaching job.

Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs plans to ring in the new year by rooting for his team to win at Fenway Park.

Jacobs said he expects the NHL's third annual Winter Classic, played outdoors Jan. 1, to be at the home of the Boston Red Sox. He said an official announcement from the league could come in July.