Armstrong Might Skip '09 Tour

Lance Armstrong has expressed doubts about racing in next year's Tour de France.

The American, who agreed Monday to ride in next year's Giro d'Italia, said in an interview yesterday in the Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport that he may not go for an eighth Tour de France title after all.

Armstrong, 37, announced last month he is returning after three years in retirement, and he wants to draw more attention to his campaign to fight cancer, a disease he survived before winning seven consecutive Tours from 1999 to 2005.

· COURTS: Former baseball star Jose Canseco was charged in federal court with a misdemeanor offense of trying to bring a fertility drug across the border from Mexico. The charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. . . .

Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Sebastian Telfair was suspended for three games after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a weapon.

· BASEBALL: Washington Nationals team orthopedist and medical director Ben Shaffer resigned after three years with the club.

"I have decided to focus my energies on my family, my practice and the other professional teams I work closely with," Shaffer said in a statement released by the team.

Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden called Shaffer's departure "a real loss for our organization."

· HOCKEY: New York Rangers first-round draft pick Alexei Cherepanov had heart problems and probably should not have been allowed to play in a game in Russia during which he collapsed and died, a regional investigator suggested.

· SOCCER: Arthur Blank, who owns the NFL's Falcons, announced a bid to bring an MLS expansion franchise to Atlanta. Spanish club FC Barcelona is leading a charge to bring one to South Florida.

The 14-team MLS has awarded franchises to Seattle and Philadelphia and plans to add two more by 2011.

· COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Tickets are on sale for this year's BB&T Classic, which will be held Dec. 7, at Verizon Center. Virginia Tech will play Navy in the first game at 5 p.m., followed by Maryland against George Washington at 7:30. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.bbandtclassic.com.

· HORSE RACING: Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin is expected to take on undefeated Casino Drive in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, but he won't face Big Brown, who was retired Monday after injuring his foot during a workout.

· BOXING: Featherweight Kevin Rivers and lightweight Traon Bynum, both of Fort Washington, are among 11 athletes who will represent the United States at the AIBA Youth World Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico, which begins Oct. 25.

-- From News Services and Staff Reports