World Hockey Association co-owner Nick Vaccaro told the Canadian Press that rumors that the rebirth of the defunct league won't happen are premature.

"Regardless of what's been said or not said, the facts are we're in discussions right now with a group of people who are looking to acquire our rights so they can operate possibly as a single entity this year," Vaccaro said. "It would basically be the transfer of the WHA trademark rights. It would be a completely new identity that would move forward."

One club, the Dallas Americans, withdrew recently. The original concept called for clubs in Dallas; Detroit; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Miami; Toronto; Vancouver; and perhaps Hamilton, Ontario.

Olympics

Six weeks after the Athens Olympics, the United States stands to pick up another gold medal -- thanks to an equestrian doping scandal.

The four Americans who finished second in the team jumping event could be bumped up to gold because a horse ridden by a member of the winning German team failed a drug test.

The International Equestrian Federation, known as FEI, said from its Swiss headquarters that four horses tested positive for banned substances during the Aug. 13-29 games.

Tennis

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova overpowered Mashona Washington, 6-0, 6-1, to win her second consecutive Japan Open in Tokyo on a day when rain from an approaching typhoon leaked through the arena's retractable roof and interrupted play.

In their previous meeting in August, Washington beat Sharapova in three sets in the second round in New Haven, Conn.

A 35-minute delay came during a men's semifinal in which Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic eliminated top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Novak will face Taylor Dent of the United States in today's final at Ariake Colosseum. Dent, seeded seventh, defeated Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in the other semifinal.

Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport won their semifinals in straight sets, setting up a No. 1 vs. No. 2 final at the Porsche Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany.

Mauresmo defeated fourth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-5, 6-4 and has beaten the U.S. Open champion all three times they have played. Davenport eliminated French Open winner Anastasia Myskina, 6-2, 6-4.

Sweden's Robin Soderling beat seventh-seeded American Vince Spadea, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the final of the Lyon Open in France. Soderling will play Belgium's Xavier Malisse in today's final. Malisse, who entered the indoor tournament having lost five consecutive matches, beat David Ferrer of Spain, 6-4, 6-2.

Malisse and Soderling will both be trying for their first career title. Malisse is 0-5 in finals while Soderling is 0-3.

Soccer

Jeff Cunningham scored in the first half and the visiting Columbus Crew extended their MLS-record unbeaten streak to 17 games with a 1-1 tie against the MetroStars. Sergio Galven Rey scored on a penalty kick in the 71st minute for the MetroStars.

Christian Gomez scored in the 32nd minute to lead D.C. United to a 1-0 victory against host New England Revolution. D.C. extended its home unbeaten streak to nine games and kept its hopes for the second seed in the playoffs alive.

Utah's Major League Soccer expansion team will be called ReAL (pronounced RAY'-al) Salt Lake, hoping it enjoys the success of a European club with a similar name.

Owner Dave Checketts said the Utah team has a relationship with Real Madrid, but no official affiliation.

Checketts, general manager Steve Pastorino and new coach John Ellinger were joined by local officials and Gov. Olene Walker during the announcement at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the team will play its first two or three seasons. Checketts said negotiations are still in progress for a location to build a soccer-only stadium for the MLS team.

The team will start adding players in the expansion draft after the playoffs next month. More players will join in the regular draft, and RSL will officially become the 12th MLS team when it begins play next spring.