Olympics
DRUG POLICY: Olympic sports federations reached apparent consensus today on minimum two-year suspensions for athletes found guilty of using banned drugs.But FIFA, world soccer's governing body, expressed reservations about the penalties, and the international cycling federation said two-year bans would never stand up in court.
Leaders of 35 international sports federations met with International Olympic Committee officials Friday in a bid to strengthen the battle against performance-enhancing drugs.
The IOC wants the 28 summer and seven winter federations to endorse common rules, procedures and sanctions to cleanse the sports world of steroids and other banned substances.
IOC leaders are intent on getting the federations to fall into line before the Feb. 2-4 world anti-doping summit in Lausanne.
Baseball
DIMAGGO IMPROVES: -Base-ball great Joe DiMaggio feels well enough to get a bigger room and could leave the intensive care unit altogether soon if improvement continues from lung cancer sur-gery.
Morris Engelberg, DiMaggio's attorney and longtime friend, said doctors could decide to move the Hall of Famer out of intensive care during the weekend.
For now, however, DiMaggio will have to make do with a larger room farther away from the nurses' station.
JAYS STAY DOME: The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a new 10-year lease with SkyDome - subject to court approval.
Blue Jays chairman Sam Pollock said the initial agreement covers the 1999 season, with details on the following years "to be finalized around principles that have been agreed to by all SkyDome share-holders."