IN BRIEF

CYCLING

Armstrong provides hair sample in drug test

Lance Armstrong has undergone hundreds of urine and blood tests throughout his cycling career. This time, he was in for a surprise -- a hair sample test.

Armstrong and French anti-doping agency AFLD said Wednesday that he was approached for a hair sample in an unannounced test Tuesday in Beaulieu-sur-Mer in southern France, where he is training as part of his comeback for a shot at an eighth Tour de France title.

Armstrong said it was the 24th anti-doping test he's faced since he announced his return in September, and the first time he's ever been asked to provide hair sample.

"I'm fully aware that it's part of the job. I knew that going in. I'm a little surprised by the frequency, but I'm not complaining," he said.

A French anti-doping inspector armed with a pair of scissors took six clumps of Armstrong's hair that will now be tested for signs of drug use, said Jean-Pierre Verdy, the French anti-doping agency's director of doping controls.

HORSE RACING

Mafaaz wins in England to claim Derby berth

Mafaaz earned an automatic berth into this year's Kentucky Derby by winning a race in Kempton Park, England.

The 3-year-old chestnut colt defeated 13 rivals in the $115,000 Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes and gained one of the coveted 20 spots for the Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Mafaaz cruised past leader Sohcahtoa and held off a late challenge by Spring of Fame to win the inaugural event on Kempton's all-weather track.

Also: Bittel Road and West Side Bernie are the early favorites for the $500,000 Lane's End Stakes, a key race leading to the Kentucky Derby.

Bittel Road was listed at 5-2, with West Side Bernie 3-1 in the field of 12. The 1 1/8-mile race at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., is Saturday's top Derby prep.

MISCELLANEOUS

UNLV baseball falls short to rival UNR

The UNLV baseball team gave up nine runs in the last two innings, losing to UNR 14-6 at Wilson Stadium.

The Rebels (11-7) took a 6-5 lead after a three-run seventh inning, paced by Kyle Kretchmer's two-run single. But the Wolf Pack scored six runs in the top of the eighth and three more in the ninth.

Ryan Thornton went 2-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI for UNLV, and Jarred Frierson had two RBIs.

Also: UNLV women's tennis player Kristina Nedeltcheva was named Mountain West Conference Player of the Week. Nedeltcheva went a combined 6-0 in singles and doubles, helping the Rebels win two of three matches.

Roger Federer improved to 12-1 against Fernando Gonzalez with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory to move into the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.

Andy Roddick, the lone American remaining in the singles draw, came back strong in the third set to beat David Ferrer, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3.

Andy Murray also advanced, extending his fine 2009 start to 18-1 when Tommy Robredo retired in the second set of their match because of a wrist injury. Murray won the first set 6-2 and led 3-0 in the second.

On the women's side, top-seeded Dinara Safina lost to No. 11 Victoria Azarenka 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-3 in a quarterfinal match. A 19-year-old from Belarus, Azarenka won titles at Brisbane and Memphis this year.

No. 6 Vera Zvonareva defeated No. 13 Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-2.

Pakistan lost the right to host its July 10-12 Davis Cup match against the Philippines because of security fears in the wake of the attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team.

Vancouver, British Columbia, was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise for the 2011 season, becoming the league's 16th franchise and second Canadian team.