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■ Athletics
Gatlin only equaled record
Justin Gatlin equaled but did not break the 100m world record at the Qatar Grand Prix last week, the sport's governing body said in Monte Carlo yesterday. The International Association of Athletics Federations said a timing error in Doha gave Gatlin a time of 9.76 seconds, which was one-hundredth of a second below Asafa Powell's world mark of 9.77. The IAAF said Gatlin's time was actually 9.766 seconds, and that should have been manually rounded up to 9.77. The time has now been adjusted to 9.77 and, pending ratification, will equal the record set by Powell in Athens, Greece, last June, the IAAF said.

■ Soccer
Libor Sionko now a Ranger
Czech midfielder Libor Sionko passed a physical examination in Glasgow on Tuesday, completing his move to Rangers from the club Austria Vienna. Sionko signed a three-year deal and becomes the second signing of new Rangers manager Paul Le Guen, who signed Dean Furman last week from Chelsea. "It is a great privilege to join Rangers and I am eager to begin my new life in Scotland," Sionko told Rangers' Web site. "I know I have signed for a massive club with many supporters and I can't wait to play in front of them at Ibrox next season." Sionko could be named to the Czech World Cup squad to replace Vladimir Smicer. Smicer has a knee injury and has not played in three months.

■ Basketball
Ralph Sampson enters plea
Former NBA star Ralph Sampson pleaded not guilty in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday to charges of lying to federal authorities about his finances in a child support case. His trial was scheduled for July 17. Sampson waived the reading of the indictment and answered routine questions during a 10-minute court appearance. He is charged with perjury, making a false claim, mail fraud and making a false statement. If convicted in the nonjury trial, he faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of US$250,000 on each count, federal prosecutor Sara Flannery said. He remains free on bond with travel restrictions. Sampson was drafted No. 1 overall by the Houston Rockets in 1983.

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