World Anti-Doping Agency to explain retrospective doping tests to European Union officials

ATHENS, Greece — The World Anti-Doping Agency will explain its methods of retrospective testing to European Union officials as part of an ongoing debate over privacy issues.

A budding rivalry: Peirsol ready to take on Phelps in 100 backstrokes _ all the way to London

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Aaron Peirsol can’t remember the last time he lost in a final of the 100-meter backstroke.

British gov’t to own London 2012 Olympic Village after recession forces $491M bailout

LONDON — The British government put another $491 million of public money into the Olympic Village for the 2012 London Games after being unable to secure private financing because of the recession.

British government puts another $491 million toward London 2012 Olympic Village

LONDON — The British government has put another $491 million of public money into the Olympic Village for the 2012 London Games after being unable to secure private financing because of the recession.

Cyclists at Giro to be tested for blood-boosting drug CERA

VENICE, Italy — Riders in the Giro d’Italia will be tested for the advanced blood-boosting drug CERA.

Look for Sasha Cohen’s comeback tour to include a stop at Skate America

Sasha Cohen fans, mark your calendars.

USOC terminates agreements for new headquarters, but negotiations continue

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The U.S. Olympic Committee has withdrawn from three agreements designed to keep its headquarters in Colorado Springs, though the federation is still negotiating in hopes of seeing the projects completed.

Pacers F Danny Granger invited to US team training camp this summer

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird has said he thinks Danny Granger can be an Olympian. His star pupil now is a step closer.

Chair of IOC’s 2016 Olympics evaluation team will return to Madrid bid’s tour late Thursday

MADRID — The head of the International Olympic Committee team evaluating Madrid’s 2016 bid will return to the city late Thursday, a day after leaving for government business in Morocco.

Freezing drug samples in sports makes sense, as shown by latest cheat catches

PARIS — Justice, it turns out, can be cheap. A shade over $29,000 a year.

Construction creaks into gear as Sochi begins preparations for Vladimir Putin’s 2014 Olympics

SOCHI, Russia — A dumptruck decorated with a Russian flag rattles down a dirt track on a massive fenced-in field, kicking up a plume of dust.

Chinese triple Olympic gold medal gymnast Yang Wei to retire

BEIJING — China’s triple Olympic gold medalist Yang Wei, one of the country’s best performers at last year’s Beijing Games, has retired from gymnastics, the official Xinhua News Agency said Thursday.

Welcome back, Michael: Phelps’ 3-month suspension is over, so it’s time to get back in pool

BALTIMORE — Michael Phelps heard all the jokes, dealt with all the criticism, read all the tabloid reports about his supposed party-boy lifestyle.

USOC spokesman Seibel becomes fourth key executive to leave since Beijing

Darryl Seibel has announced his resignation as chief communications officer at the U.S. Olympic Committee, the fourth key executive to leave the federation since the end of the Beijing Games.

Michael Phelps returns from 3-month suspension, ready to start racing again

BALTIMORE — Michael Phelps’ three-month suspension from competition is now over and he marked the occasion like any other day: He woke up late and headed to the pool. Speaking exclusively with The Associated Press, Phelps said he didn’t even realize his suspension ended Tuesday. Coach Bob Bowman couldn’t resist making a joke, saying he planned to enter his star swimmer in a meet later that night.

McCann Worldgroup confirmed as the official marketing group for 2012 London Olympics

LONDON — U.S.-owned advertising firm McCann Worldgroup has been confirmed as the official marketers for the 2012 London Olympics.

Madrid 2016 Olympic bid says claims of spying on rival Rio de Janeiro have been exaggerated

MADRID — Madrid’s 2016 Olympics bid said Tuesday that accusations it spied on a rival candidate had been blown out of proportion.

Wang Hao and Zhang Yining win singles, giving China a sweep of golds at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Wang Hao defeated compatriot Wang Liqin in the men’s singles final Tuesday to give China an impressive sweep of the gold medals at the table tennis world championships.

Wang wins men’s title, Zhang tops women as China sweeps golds at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Wang Hao of China defeated compatriot Wang Liqin in the men’s singles final Tuesday as China completed an impressive sweep of the gold medals at the table tennis world championships.

Spanish prime minister believes Madrid has ‘reasonable hope’ of landing 2016 Olympics

MADRID — Spain’s prime minister believes Madrid has “reasonable hope” of landing the 2016 Olympics.

Wang Hao and Zhang Yining give China a singles sweep of golds at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Wang Hao of China defeated compatriot Wang Liqin in straight sets Tuesday to win the men’s singles title at the table tennis world championships.

China’s Wang wins gold at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Wang Hao of China defeated compatriot Wang Liqin in straight sets Tuesday to win the men’s singles title at the table tennis world championships.

Chinese Olympic champion Zhang Yining wins women’s gold at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Olympic champion Zhang Yining of China defeated defending champion and compatriot Guo Yue in six sets Tuesday to win the women’s singles title at the table tennis world championships.

China’s Zhang wins women’s gold at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Olympic champion Zhang Yining of China defeated defending champion and compatriot Guo Yue in six sets Tuesday to win women’s singles title at the table tennis world championships.

Arbitrator reduces swimmer Jessica Hardy’s doping suspension to 1 year

LOS ANGELES — Swimmer Jessica Hardy has had her two-year suspension for a failed drug test reduced to one year, allowing her to return to competition this summer.

Gao Hongbo is announced as latest coach of China’s troubled national soccer team

BEIJING — Gao Hongbo was announced as the latest coach of China’s troubled national soccer team on Monday.

Olympic champ Zhang reaches all-Chinese final at table tennis worlds

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Olympic champion Zhang Yining of China advanced to the women’s singles final with a six-set win over compatriot Liu Shiwen at the table tennis world championships.on Monday

Teachers union says school board memo appears to force support for Chicago’s 2016 Olympics bid

CHICAGO — A teachers union says an e-mail from the Chicago school board appears to force principals to support the city’s bid to host the Summer Olympics in 2016.

China’s Zhang advances in table tennis worlds women’s singles

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Olympic gold medalist Zhang Yining of China defeated Hungary’s Krisztina Toth on Saturday at the table tennis world championships.

Chicago bid team reaffirms support of President Barack Obama for 2016 Olympics

MILAN — The leaders of Chicago’s 2016 Olympic effort promised unprecedented political support for their bid, once again underlining the backing of President Barack Obama.