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■SOCCER

Leverkusen up to second

Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrick Helmes scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 home victory over Hanover 96 on Friday to shoot them to provisional second spot in the German Bundesliga table. Simon Rolfes got Leverkusen off the mark after five minutes, paving the way for Germany international Helmes to find the net in the 19th, 59th and 66th minutes. Helmes’ goals makes him the league’s top scorer with six and Leverkusen now have the best attack in the league with 15 goals. Bayern have nine points, one behind leaders Hamburg who travel to VfL Wolfsburg today.

■SOCCER

Boca to open own hotel

Argentine side Boca Juniors will open their own US$15 million hotel in 2010, the club said on Friday, with rooms in the 17-floor development named after some of their most famous players, including Diego Maradona. The construction of the “Hotel Boca by Design Suites,” that will boast 89 rooms, will get under way later this year in the San Telmo area of the city, one of the most popular with visitors. “There are millions of Boca fans who dream of spending a weekend in a hotel like this and where they can share the experience with their idols,” Boca Juniors president Pedro Pomplio said. Boca players would meet before matches at the hotel, which will be decorated predominantly in the club colors of blue and yellow.

■CYCLING

Aussie Roland suspended

Australian cyclist Mark Roland has been given a two-year suspension for the use of prohibited substances — without returning a positive result to any doping test. The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) said on Friday that Roland, who competed professionally with the 2003 Giant Asia Racing Team, was found in investigations to have used human growth hormone twice in 2003 and the anabolic steroid dehydroepiandrosterone on three occasions in 2003 and 2004. ASADA chairman Richard Ings said the case was significant because there was no positive test on which to base the sanction. Instead, it relied on evidence obtained by ASADA and Roland also admitted to investigators that he had used the substances.

■CRICKET

Tendulkar could miss tour

India batsman Sachin Tendulkar could miss the four-Test series against Australia starting in Bangalore on Oct. 9 after injury ruled him out of a premier domestic competition match next week. Tendulkar suffered an elbow injury during the third Test in Sri Lanka last month which forced him out of the subsequent one-day series. He had declared himself available for the Irani Trophy match, seen as a selection game for the Australia series, but a physiotherapist at the National Cricket Academy advised him to take another week’s rest to recuperate.

■CRICKET

Asif asks for early hearing

A lawyer acting for suspended Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif has asked for his appeal against a positive doping test to be set for the earliest possible date. Asif tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone during a domestic Twenty20 competition in India and was immediately suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board when the positive test was announced in July. He denied taking any banned substances. His “B” sample also tested positive. Asif’s lawyer Shahid Karim said last month they would appeal, though admitted yesterday that he was frustrated by the delay in getting a hearing.

■BASKETBALL

Shock beat Fever 81-72

The Detroit Shock opened their WNBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Indiana, with an 81-72 win over the Indiana Fever on Friday. Deanna Nolan scored 22 points to lead Detroit, which can clinch the best-of-three series at home today. The Shock is chasing its third WNBA title since 2003. Before the game, Indiana’s Ebony Hoffman was chosen as this season’s most improved player in the WNBA. In Los Angeles, the home team overcame late turnovers to beat Seattle 77-69 in the opener of their Western Conference first-round series. Candace Parker had 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles. The Storm got within six points in the final five minutes then went cold offensively. Seattle’s bench got outscored 32-15. Game 2 of the best-of-three playoff series is today in Seattle, where the Storm was a WNBA-best 16-1 in the regular season. The Sparks won the teams’ season series, losing only on the road. Lisa Leslie of the Sparks was named WNBA defensive player of the year on Friday.

■BASEBALL

A-Rod in amicable split

Baseball star Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Rodriguez, his wife of more than five years, have reached a divorce settlement, their lawyers confirmed on Friday. The terms weren’t disclosed, but a statement approved by both sides called the split amicable. Concern centered on the best interests of their two young daughters, the statement said. Cynthia Rodriguez, 35, filed for divorce in July, claiming that Rodriguez, 32, was repeatedly unfaithful. There were rumors of romance with pop star Madonna, which Madonna and A-Rod denied. Rodriguez is in the first year of a 10-year deal that pays at least US$275 million.

■FOOTBALL

Saints sign Harrington

The New Orleans Saints have signed experienced quarterback Joey Harrington, head coach Sean Payton said on Friday. Harrington, 29, played the first four seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions before moving to the Miami Dolphins in 2006 and the Atlanta Falcons last season. He will be the Saints’ third-string quarterback behind Drew Brees and Mark Brunell. Harrington, who practiced with the team on Friday, played in 12 games for the Falcons last year, completing nearly 62 percent of his 348 passes for 2,215 yards and seven touchdowns.

■BASKETBALL

Celtics’ Miles suspended

Boston Celtics forward Darius Miles has been suspended without pay for 10 games for violating the terms of the anti-drug program at the end of the 2007-2008 season. Miles’ suspension will begin with the first game of the 2008-2009 regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play. Miles has missed the past two NBA seasons because of knee injuries. He has averaged 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds in his career.

■BASEBALL

Mets might host tiebreaker

The New York Mets will host the Milwaukee Brewers in a one-game tiebreaker for a wildcard place if the teams end the regular season with identical records, Major League Baseball said on Friday. A flip of a coin determined that the winner-take-all game for a post-season berth will be played at Shea Stadium in New York. Sept. 29 was set as a tentative date for the game. Ahead of Friday’s play, the Mets led the Brewers by 1.5 games.