SOCCER

FIFA bans high-altitude international matches

FIFA has banned international games from being played at high altitudes.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the decision to ban games more than 8,200 feet above sea level was made Sunday after a review by the medical team for world soccer's governing body.

Bolivia has held World Cup qualifiers at an altitude of about 11,810 feet at its capital La Paz. There has been criticism that Bolivia's advantage is not only unfair, but also dangerous for the players' health.

Beckham could replace Lennon in England lineup: David Beckham's chance of starting for England improved when teammate Aaron Lennon withdrew from games against Brazil (Friday) and Estonia (June 6) because of a knee injury.

Beckham was recalled to the England team this week by coach Steve McClaren after being overlooked for nine matches since last year's World Cup.

CYCLING

Report: Ullrich given EPO shot by masseur

A former massage therapist for cyclist Jan Ullrich claimed he gave the 1997 Tour de France winner and former Team Telekom rider an EPO shot.

Jef d'Hont, who worked from 1992 to 1996 as a massage therapist for Team Telekom, now known as T-Mobile. He said he never gave Ullrich a blood-boosting EPO shot in Germany only once at an undisclosed race in France.

Ricco wins grueling 15th stage of Giro; Di Luca retains lead: Riccardo Ricco won the grueling 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia, and Danilo Di Luca retained the overall lead at Tre Cime Di Lavaredo, Italy.

Eddy Mazzoleni moved up from ninth to second overall, 1:51 behind Di Luca.

Karpets wins Spanish Volta: Vladimir Karpets of Russia won the Volta of Catalunya at Barcelona, Spain.

Samuel Sanchez of Spain won the seventh and last leg of Spain's oldest cycling race in 2 hours, 46 minutes, 6 seconds.

COLLEGE TENNIS

USC's Nelson reaches women's singles final

USC's Lindsey Nelson beat LSU's Megan Falcon 7-6 (2), 6-2 to reach today's NCAA women's singles championship at Athens, Ga.

The fourth-seeded Nelson will face top seed Audra Cohen of Miami, a 6-2, 6-2 win over Baylor's Zuzana Zemenova.

In the men's tournament, top-seeded John Isner of Georgia will play No. 2-seed Somdev Devvarman of Virginia for the men's singles championship, after defeating Washington's Alex Slovic 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.

TRACK AND FIELD

Lysenko sets women's hammer world record

Tatiana Lysenko broke her world record in the women's hammer throw with a toss of 258 feet, 1 inches at the Russian nationals.

She set the mark on her first attempt Saturday at the meet in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, the Russian Track and Field Federation said.

Her previous world record of 255-5 was set last August in Tallinn, Estonia.

OBITUARY

Ex-Villanova basketball star Porter dies at 58

Howard Porter, one of the best players in Villanova basketball history, died after he was found severely beaten in an alley more than a week ago. He was 58.

Porter died Saturday night, Minneapolis Police Lt. Kim Lund said. Police were awaiting a report from the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.