Wrestling Deaths Bring Rule Changes

The NCAA, jarred by the recent deaths of three wrestlers trying to make their weight classes, announced rule changes Tuesday in Overland Park, Kan., that put new restrictions on the ways wrestlers shed pounds to make weight.

Among the changes, effective immediately:

* Rubber suits, saunas and diuretics were added to the list of devices prohibited in competition preparation. NCAA rules already bar laxatives, self-induced vomiting, hot rooms, hot boxes and steam rooms.

* For the rest of this season only, a seven-pound weight allowance has been added to all weight classes, which already have a one-pound allowance.

For example, wrestlers in the 118-pound class may weigh as much as 126 pounds. But as of Feb. 1, when the one-pound allowance ends, seven pounds will be added to each weight class, making the 118-pound class a 125-pound class.

Swimming

Kristy Kowal and Tom Dolan won gold medals for the United States at the world championships in Perth, Australia. Kowal, of Athens, Ga., became the first American woman to win the 100-meter breaststroke at a world championships, clocking 1 minute 8.42 seconds to edge Helen Denman (1:08.51) of Australia.

Australian Michael Klim today posted the fastest qualifying time for the men’s 100-meter freestyle at 49.33 seconds, and Russian rival Alex Popov was next at 49.57.

Brooke Bennett of the United States, the 1996 Olympic 800-meter champion, was the fastest qualifier for the women’s 400-meter final in 4:10.39.

Meanwhile, the World Swimming Coaches’ Assn. charged that FINA, the world swimming body, is stalling on investigations into doping charges against members of the Chinese and German teams.

Drug controversies have overshadowed the championships since German team director Winfried Leopold admitted his involvement in the former East German doping regime, and two members of the Chinese team were caught smuggling human growth hormones into Australia last week.

Tennis

In women’s second-round play today at the Sydney International, Natasha Zvereva beat No. 3 Amanda Coetzer, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5; Ai Sugiyama beat No. 6 Conchita Martinez, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3; and Serena Williams, Venus’ sister, defeated Sandrine Testud, 7-6 (7-5), 3-0, retired.

In the men’s draw, No. 7 Albert Costa defeated Magnus Gustafsson, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Michael Chang was forced to withdraw from the Colonial Classic in Melbourne today, suffering from a slight stomach muscle strain. It was his final opportunity to gain match practice before the Australian Open begins Monday.

World No. 1 Martina Hingis is the top-seeded woman for the Australian Open and Pete Sampras heads the men’s seeded players. American Lindsay Davenport is seeded second among the women.

Winter Sports

Hermann Maier won a giant slalom in a combined 2:20.08 in Adelboden, Switzerland, for his fourth consecutive World Cup victory and his seventh of the season. . . . . Jan Bos of the Netherlands won the 500 meters in 36.65 seconds at the World Cup speedskating meet in Baselga Di Pine, Italy.

Baseball

The New York Mets, hoping to fill a spot in their starting rotation, signed Japanese right-hander Masato Yoshii to a one-year contract. Yoshii, 32, was signed on the same day Jason Isringhausen underwent reconstructive surgery on his right elbow that will sideline him for the 1998 season.

Yoshii compiled a 73-51 record with 61 saves and a 3.43 earned-run average with the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Professional League. He was a teammate of Dodger pitcher Hideo Nomo with Kintetsu.

Colorado Rocky outfielder Larry Walker, the 1997 NL most valuable player, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow. He is expected to be ready for opening day. . . . Reliever Jeff Nelson and the New York Yankees agreed to a three-year, $5.5-million contract and avoided salary arbitration. . . . Free-agent third baseman Sean Berry re-signed with the Houston Astros for one year at $1 million. . . . Outfielder Vince Coleman, 36, the catalyst of two pennant-winning St. Louis teams in the 1980s, agreed to a minor league contract with the Cardinals that will pay him $350,000 if he makes the team. . . . First baseman Eddie Williams, who played part of last season with the Dodgers, is back for a third stint with the San Diego Padres after signing a minor league contract. . . . Free-agent catcher Ron Karkovice, 34, and the Cleveland Indians agreed to a minor league contract. . . . Joseph E. Becker, a catcher for the Cleveland Indians in 1936-37 and a pitching coach with the Dodgers from the mid-50s through 1964, died Sunday in St. Louis, Mo., after a lengthy illness. He was 89.

Boxing

Eddie Futch, 86, who trained 21 world champions, including Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes and Riddick Bowe, announced his retirement.

Trainer Lou Duva heads a list of 13 boxing greats and ring personalities who will be enshrined June 14 in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y.

Joe Bugner, 47, regained the Australian heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Colin Wilson in Gold Coast, Australia.

Miscellany

Former Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims was sentenced to one month in jail in Tulsa, Okla., for failure to pay child support. U.S. District Judge Sven Erik Holmes also ordered the former Oklahoma and Detroit Lion star to pay $14,025.85 in restitution to a woman who gave birth to Sims’ daughter in 1978.

Mater Dei High football player Mike McNair selected Notre Dame over USC. He rushed for a school-record 2,678 yards and scored 34 touchdowns last season.

Mike Lachance became only the second harness driver to collect 8,000 wins, reaching the milestone at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., by capturing the second race with Pan Yankees.