Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Spain tested positive for a banned steroid while winning this year’s race and has been suspended by cycling’s governing body. A World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited lab in Cologne, Germany, found a “very small concentration” of clenbuterol in Contador’s urine sample on July 21 at the Tour, according to [...]

Washington Wizards majority owner Ted Leonsis told local business leaders Wednesday that he expects the NBA soon will have a hard salary cap similar to the NHL’s model. NBA commissioner David Stern said that’s not necessarily true — and warned Leonsis could be punished for discussing private league business. Read more

The Tampa Bay Rays gave a full house little to cheer about. Kevin Millwood allowed two hits over seven innings, Felix Pie hit a two-run triple and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Rays 2-0 before a capacity crowd of 36,973 on Wednesday night. The Rays gave away 20,000 tickets for the regular-season home finale. Read [...]

Bobby Cox wants to make sure the attention being paid to his final regular-season games as Atlanta’s manager takes a back seat to the Braves’ pursuit of their first playoff berth since 2005. Cox deflected questions about his retirement after the Braves beat the Florida Marlins 5-1 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep behind [...]

An appeals committee denied Richard Childress Racing’s request to have Clint Bowyer’s championship-ending penalty reversed, and the team owner vowed Wednesday to fight the decision to NASCAR’s highest level. Read more