World-record holder Usain Bolt put his poor performance in the Czech Republic behind him with a season-best 9.76 seconds in the 100-meter race Thursday at the Golden Gala in Rome. Former world-record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica crossed second in 9.91, and European champion Christophe Lemaitre of France was third in 10.04. Bolt ran a 10.04 in Ostrava last week, raising questions about his Olympic preparations. His previous world's best of 9.82 was set at home in Jamaica in May. . . . Ethiopian distance runner Ezkyas Sisay has been banned for two years after testing positive for EPO, a blood-boosting drug, in last year's New York City Marathon.
Sports in Brief: Bolt wins 100-meter dash in Rome
NFL: Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks insists that a recent broken foot will not keep him out of the New York Giants' season opener against Dallas on Sept. 5. He underwent surgery last Friday. . . . Former Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward was hired by NBC Sports to work as an analyst for its NFL and college football coverage. Ward retired in March. . . . Buffalo defensive end Shawne Merriman took part in his first full team practice since surgery to repair a partially torn right Achilles tendon in November.
BOXING: North Philadelphia's Gabriel Rosado will meet Sechew Powell on Friday night in a 12-round bout at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, Pa., for the vacant WBO Intercontinental light-middleweight title. Rosado (19-5, 11 knockouts) has won his last five fights, three by knockout. Powell (26-4, 15 KO's) has lost his last two fights, including a unanimous decision against Cornelius Bundrage for the IBF title. . . . Floyd Mayweather Jr., 35, is due to begin a three-month jail sentence Friday in Las Vegas stemming from a hair-pulling, arm-twisting attack in September 2010 on the mother of three of his children. The unbeaten, five-division champion was scheduled to begin his sentence Jan. 6, but the judge let him remain free long enough to fight Miguel Cotto on May 5 in Las Vegas. Mayweather won the bout and $32 million.
SOCCER:Ronaldinho's stint with Brazil's most popular club is over after the player decided to sue Flamengo for reportedly $20 million for unpaid salaries. . . . England midfielder Frank Lampard (thigh injury) was ruled out of the European Championship, which begins next week. . . . France extended its unbeaten run to 20 matches as Franck Ribery and Florent Malouda scored in a 2-0 win over Serbia in Reims, France. . . . Sporting Kansas City defender Cyprian Hedrick will miss about four months after breaking his left leg.
COLLEGES: NCAA president Mark Emmert said another round of conference realignment could be sparked by schools' trying to improve their chances to play in a proposed four-team college football playoff.
- Staff and wire reports
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