Track coach Trevor Graham received a lifetime ban from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency yesterday for his role in helping his athletes obtain performance-enhancing drugs.

Graham has been banned from participating in any event sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic Committee, the IAAF, USA Track and Field or any other group that participates in the World Anti-Doping Agency program.

He was convicted in May of one count of lying to federal investigators about his relationship to an admitted steroids dealer. He's still awaiting sentencing and has asked a judge to toss out his conviction.

"As greater progress is being made in the fight against doping in sport, accountability is extending beyond athletes to include coaches, agents and others who are complicit," USOC spokesman Darryl Seibel told the AP in an e-mail.

Graham already was banned from all USOC-sponsored facilities and had essentially become a pariah in his sport, connected with too many athletes involved in doping — Marion Jones and former 100-meter world-record holders Justin Gatlin and Tim Montgomery to name a few.

SPRINTER GAY RESTING

Sprinter Tyson Gay is in Germany, resting, relaxing and getting ready for his next race — almost exactly like he planned before getting injured at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Gay sprained a muscle in the back of his left leg in a 200-meter qualifying race, a tumble that forced him to be carted off the track and ended his chances of winning two individual gold medals in Beijing.

"He's fine," his coach, Jon Drummond, said yesterday. "He's walking normal. There's nothing to really be overly concerned about. I feel there's no reason why he won't be 100 percent at the Games."

Gay will run in the 100 and the 400-meter relay in Beijing.

BASKETBALL

YAO SET FOR RETURN

Chinese newspapers say Yao Ming is likely to resume working out with China's national basketball team later this week.

The Houston Rockets center has a "very high" chance of playing in China's three games at the Stankovic Cup Olympic warmup tournament in the eastern city of Hangzhou, Hu Jiashi, deputy director of the Chinese Basketball Association was quoted as saying by newspapers.

China's first game is against Serbia tomorrow.

GERMANY VICTORIOUS

Slovenia, Germany, Puerto Rico and Brazil won and reached the quarterfinals of the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament yesterday in Athens, Greece.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 16 points to lead Germany to a 104-68 win over Cape Verde in its opening game.

Slovenia beat Canada, 86-70; Brazil topped Lebanon, 94-54, and Puerto Rico beat Cameroon, 81-72. The twelve-team tournament will send three teams to the Olympics.

TENNIS

TSONGA WITHDRAWS

Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Stefan Koubek and Karin Knapp withdrew yesterday from the Olympic tennis tournament because of injuries.

Tsonga will be replaced by Michael Llodra for the tennis tournament at the Beijing Games. The 31-year-old Koubek has a back injury and will be replaced by Chris Guccione of Australia in the men's singles competition, with Mara Santangelo replacing her 21-year-old Italian teammate in the women's singles.