MIAMI (AP) – Dwyane Wade of the NBA champion Miami Heat had surgery Monday on his left knee, and is expected to need up to eight weeks to fully recover.
Wade was bothered by knee pain and swelling throughout the playoffs. He had fluid removed midway through Miami’s second-round series with Indiana and needed treatment several times a week during Miami’s run to the title.
He opted to have the knee surgery early in the offseason in Miami with hopes of being ready for the start of training camp this fall. The surgery forced Wade to withdraw from consideration for the U.S. Olympic team.
Wade played in all 23 Heat playoff games despite the knee problems.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Lance Armstrong is asking a federal court to block the latest doping charges against him.
The seven-time Tour de France winner filed a lawsuit in Austin on Monday. Through his attorneys, he argues the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency violates the constitutional rights of athletes when it brings charges against them, and that USADA should not be allowed to pursue charges Armstrong used performance-enhancing drugs during his career.
Armstrong says he’s innocent, and wants a judge to block the case from going forward. USADA says more than 10 former teammates and team officials will testify against Armstrong, who could be banned from the sport for life and stripped of his Tour de France victories if found guilty.
Armstrong faces a Saturday deadline to accept USADA sanctions or send the case to arbitration.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Penske Racing says Sam Hornish Jr. will replace suspended driver AJ Allmendinger this weekend at New Hampshire.
Allmendinger was suspended shortly before Saturday night’s race at Daytona for failing a random drug test. NASCAR and Penske officials have not said what Allmendinger tested positive for, and Allmendinger has made no statement since his suspension.
Allmendinger has until Tuesday to ask for his “B” sample to be tested.
Penske Racing says in a Monday statement that it will continue to work with NASCAR on this matter, but the team will use Hornish in the No. 22 Dodge this weekend.
Hornish was the emergency substitute for Allmendinger on Saturday night. He flew to Daytona from Charlotte and arrived right before the start of the race.