IN BRIEF

BASEBALL

Reno to begin talks to lure Triple-A team

The Reno City Council voted Wednesday to open negotiations with the Pacific Coast League’s Tucson Sidewinders in an attempt to bring the Triple-A baseball team to the city.

SK Baseball LLC has an agreement to buy the Sidewinders, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, but the PCL and Major League Baseball must approve the purchase.

The group had pursued bringing the franchise to a proposed stadium at a shopping mall and entertainment center being built in neighboring Sparks. But those talks broke off this month, and SK Baseball since has determined that Reno is a viable location for a stadium.

Specific sites in Reno have not been identified. Mark Lewis, the city’s redevelopment administrator, said the group is scouting three or four locations for a 10,000-seat stadium that would require a minimum of eight acres.

GOLF

Woods, Mickelson will play in AT&T National

Tiger Woods will return to competition at the AT&T National in Potomac, Md., from July 5 to 8. He hasn’t played since becoming a father for the first time June 18.

Phil Mickelson also will play in the event. He said his recovery from a wrist injury is ahead of schedule.

Woods will host the tournament at Congressional Country Club, joining Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to host a PGA Tour event.

MISCELLANEOUS

NCAA votes against testing for street drugs

A proposal that would have expanded the NCAA’s drug-testing policy to include street drugs was rejected by an NCAA committee. The measure would have imposed strong sanctions for violators, including a half-season suspension for first-time offenders.

The decision will not change the program currently implemented by the NCAA, which includes testing at championship events and random year-round testing for performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids.

Also: FIFA revised its ban on soccer matches at high altitude, easing the restrictions to apply only to World Cup qualifiers above 9,840 feet rather than 8,200 feet.

The change, brought on by protests from South American countries, means international matches still can be played in the capitals of Colombia and Ecuador but rules out Bolivia’s capital, La Paz. While the initial decision applied to all international games, the new rule will be limited to World Cup qualifiers.

Serena and Venus Williams were picked to play for the United States in the Fed Cup semifinals against Russia on July 14 and 15 at Stowe, Vt. Doubles specialist Lisa Raymond and teenager Vania King complete the U.S. squad announced by captain Zina Garrison.

Ted Musgrave was suspended one race for retaliating against rookie Kelly Bires during the NASCAR Truck Series race Friday at the Milwaukee Mile. Musgrave also was penalized 50 points, fined $10,000 and placed on probation through the end of the year.

Louisiana State has paid former women’s basketball coach Pokey Chatman the $160,000 owed her as a result of a recent contract settlement. Chatman resigned March 7 amid allegations of improper conduct with a former player or players.

America’s Cup defending champion Alinghi claimed a 30-second victory over New Zealand in Valencia, Spain, to tie at 2 the best-of-9 series for the Auld Mug.