Drug inquiry may be near an end

The former federal prosecutor who oversaw the government’s investigation into alleged performance-enhancing drug use by Barry Bonds and other professional athletes said Monday the nearly five-year probe could come to an end “in the not-too-distant future.”

Kevin Ryan declined to elaborate or offer firm dates but said that “most of the heavy lifting was done” in the investigation before he left the office in March as part of the Bush administration’s controversial purge of eight U.S. attorneys across the country.

TENNIS

Blake, Berdych advance; Federer withdraws

James Blake and Tomas Berdych advanced to the second round of the Gerry Weber Open at Halle, Germany.

Blake defeated Sam Querrey, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, and Berdych spoiled Nicolas Kiefer’s return from an injury with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) win.

Four-time champion Roger Federer withdrew from the tournament, citing fatigue after his French Open loss to Rafael Nadal on Sunday.

Three-time Grand Slam singles champion and former No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and her husband, Jonathan Leach, are the parents of a boy, Jagger Jonathan Leach, who was born Sunday.

JURISPRUDENCE

Daly’s wife says he lied about being attacked

John Daly assaulted his wife and then covered up the incident by scratching his face and claiming she attacked him, Sherrie Daly alleges in court papers filed Monday and obtained by the Commercial Appeal of Memphis, Tenn.

John Daly told authorities on Friday that his wife tried to stab him with a steak knife, and the golfer had red marks on his cheeks when he showed up to play in the Stanford St. Jude Championship.

Hector “Macho” Camacho was sentenced in Biloxi, Miss., to the maximum seven years in prison for burglary, but the eight-time world champion could avoid spending time in a cell. Judge Steve Simpson suspended six years of the sentence and said Camacho could serve one year under house arrest if authorities in Puerto Rico agree to monitor him. That would be followed by two years’ probation.

PRO FOOTBALL

McNabb is ahead of schedule in rehabilitation

Donovan McNabb took a major step forward in his return from knee surgery, practicing with the Philadelphia Eagles several weeks ahead of schedule.

The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback participated in non-contact drills in his first action on the field since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Nov. 19.

McNabb hadn’t been expected to take part in drills with the team until training camp opens next month.

The Buffalo Bills said they are prepared to move on without Darwin Walker after they couldn’t agree on a new contract with the veteran defensive tackle before the start of a mandatory minicamp Monday.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UCLA’s Carlson is hired by UC San Diego

Chris Carlson, UCLA’s director of basketball operations for the last four seasons, was named head coach at UC San Diego. Carlson, 37, is a San Diego native and was on UCLA Coach Ben Howland’s staff when Howland was at Northern Arizona and Pittsburgh. He was also an assistant coach for four years at UC Santa Barbara. UC San Diego is an NCAA Division II program.

-- Diane Pucin

Nevada Las Vegas has offered men’s Coach Lon Kruger a contract that would guarantee him $5.2 million over the next five years.

The contract extension needs approval from the Nevada System of Higher Education regents.

GOLF

12-year-old qualifies for U.S. Women’s Open

Twelve-year-old Alexis Thompson became the youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, besting the previous mark set by Morgan Pressel by seven months.

Thompson, of Coral Springs, Fla., shot rounds of 72 and 71 at Heathrow, Fla., and was one of eight players to earn a spot in the 156-player field for the Women’s Open to be played June 28 to July 1.

PASSINGS

Ray Mears, 80; former Tennessee basketball coach

Ray Mears, who coached Tennessee men’s basketball for 15 seasons, has died. He was 80. Mears’ teams were 278-112 at Tennessee from 1962 to 1978.

Andre Bell, 21, who was thrown from Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith’s sport utility vehicle when it overturned last weekend in Neptune, N.J., has died.

Jim Killingsworth, who took over a struggling Texas Christian basketball team in the 1980s and coached the Horned Frogs to the NCAA tournament, has died in Owasso, Okla. He was 83.