Rafael Nadal stays focused during his quarterfinal victory in the Monte Carlo Masters.
Olympic champion Tyler Hamilton, once touted as the next great American cyclist and an heir to Lance Armstrong’s throne atop the sport, ended his doping-tarnished career Friday by saying he tested positive for a banned substance and would retire.
Hamilton admitted taking an herbal product for two days in February to combat depression, knowing it included a steroid.
“There’s nothing to fight about,” the 38-year-old Hamilton told The Associated Press. “I took a banned substance. I accept the consequences. You make mistakes in your life and I accept the penalty like a man.”
Hamilton will likely receive a ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that may range from eight years to life, a sentence that would have ended his racing days anyway.
“He has had a cloud over his career for a while now and the sport is better off without him,” said Pat McQuaid, president of the International Cycling Union.
Hamilton’s win at the 2004 Athens Games was overshadowed by a blood doping scandal. He tested positive for doping a second time later that year, served a two-year suspension and returned to racing early in 2007 – never revealing that he was fighting depression, which he said runs in his family.
Going through a divorce and seeing his mother fight breast cancer made things worse in recent months, Hamilton said.
Seeking relief, he took something called Mitamins Advanced Formula, billed as a “natural depression treatment with vitamins, herbs and supplements.”
“Obviously, that was a mistake,” Hamilton said.
In a statement, USADA said it will continue going through the process of issuing a sanction.
“Although Mr. Hamilton has now retired from the sport of cycling and has publicly accepted responsibility, this is a pending matter and USADA will make an announcement of the final outcome and imposition of the exact sanction in accordance with the rules when the process is complete, which should be in the coming months,” the statement said.
UW getting new field
SEATTLE – Husky Stadium is finally getting rid of its old “Seahawks” turf and getting a new synthetic grass field.
The University of Washington announced Friday that a new FieldTurf football surface will be installed next month to replace the 9-year-old field that still has NFL markings from when the Huskies shared it with the Seahawks. The cost of the project is estimated to be $350,000.
Arkansas junior may leave
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas junior forward Michael Washington has made himself available for the NBA draft without signing with an agent.
Forgoing the services of an agent leaves open the possibility that Washington could retain his collegiate eligibility if he withdraws his name by June 15.
The 6-foot-9, 239-pound Washington averaged 15.5 points per game this season and led the Southeastern Conference in rebounds, at 9.8 per game.
Nadal wins in straight sets
MONACO – Top-ranked Rafael Nadal moved one step closer to his fifth straight final at the Monte Carlo Masters, defeating Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-3 Friday in his second match of the day.
Nadal also improved his winning streak in Monaco to 25 matches.
After beating Nicolas Lapentti 6-3, 6-0 in a rain-delayed third-round match, Nadal showed few signs of fatigue against Ljubicic in winning his 19th straight match on clay to reach the semifinals.
Nadal next faces fourth-seeded Andy Murray, who reached his first career semifinal on clay after beating Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (1), 6-4.
Third-seeded Novak Djokovic also reached the semifinals, defeating No. 7 Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Djokovic will meet No. 13 Stanislas Wawrinka, who upset No. 2 Roger Federer on Thursday. Wawrinka defeated German qualifier Andreas Beck 6-2, 6-4 on Friday.
Dementieva advances
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Top-seeded Elena Dementieva advanced to the Family Circle Cup semifinals when Dominika Cibulkova quit in the second set Friday because of a leg injury.
Dementieva next meets fifth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, who routed Virginie Razzano 6-2, 6-0.
Sabine Lisicki, the 16th-seed who ousted Venus Williams on Thursday, advanced with an easy 6-4, 6-0 victory over unseeded Elena Vesnina.