Brazilian authorities detained the wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti and formally accused her yesterday of killing him at a posh seaside tourist resort in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation and presented a formal accusation against her. Prosecutors will later decide whether she will be charged.

Rodrigues, who denies any involvement in her husband's death, was the first to find the slain boxer's body early Saturday inside the vacation apartment they were renting at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil, police said.

The 37-year-old former junior welterweight champion was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police. She told The Associated Press that the Canadian also sustained a head injury.

Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours inside the residence without noticing that Gatti was already dead.

Rodrigues told police she had a fight with Gatti after dinner Friday night and he pushed her to the ground during the altercation, causing her to sustain minor injuries to her elbow and chin. She told authorities Gatti was drunk and that a third party likely committed the crime after he went to the apartment by himself.

Authorities were told the couple was extremely jealous of each other and that Gatti constantly complained about her clothing when she traveled to Brazil, Saraiva said.

The couple's 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was handed to Rodrigues' sister, Saraiva said.

AUTO RACING

FRANCHITTI TRIUMPHS

Dario Franchitti won the Honda Indy on the street course in Toronto yesterday, easily holding off Penske drivers Ryan Briscoe and Will Power on a late restart for his third win of the season.

It was the first race in Toronto for the IndyCar Series, and Franchitti, the pole-sitter, was both lucky and good in regaining the series points lead over Target Chip Ganassi teammate Scott Dixon.

Dixon was fourth, followed by Justin Wilson of Dale Coyne Racing.

Canadian drivers Paul Tracy and Alex Tagliani, seeking full-time rides, acquitted themselves well before late accidents spoiled their days. Tracy collided with Helio Castroneves with 20 laps remaining in the 85-lap race and both cars, running in the top three at the time, had to retire.

Tagliani, who led briefly in the early stages of the race, was involved in a three-car collision with 10 laps left and finished ninth.

WEBBER EARNS F1 WIN

Red Bull's Mark Webber won his first Formula One race after overcoming a penalty to take the German Grand Prix at Nuerburgring, Germany.

The Australian beat teammate Sebastian Vettel by 9.2 seconds yesterday despite a drive-through penalty for bumping Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello at the start while defending his pole position.

It was the second straight 1-2 for the Austrian team and third overall in nine races.

Felipe Massa gave Ferrari its first podium finish of the season by coming in third ahead of Nico Rosberg of Williams.

Overall leader Jenson Button of Brawn GP was fifth to increase his total to 68 points.

BASEBALL

U.S. BEATS JAPAN, 3-0

Gerrit Cole struck out nine in seven innings yesterday to lead the United States to a 3-0 win over Japan in the opener of the U.S.-Japan collegiate championships at Matsuyama, Japan.

Cole, who attends UCLA, allowed only two hits and one walk. Vanderbilt's Sonny Gray and Chad Bettis of Texas Tech finished the shutout.

Team USA took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Christian Colon of Cal State Fullerton tripled to right field, scoring Florida State's Tyler Holt, and Matt Newman of Arizona State brought Colon home with a single to left.

Andy Wilkins of Arkansas added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a single to left that scored Newman.

Hawai'i's Kolten Wong batted second and went 0 for 4. He played second base and right field in the game.

Game Two of the five-game series will be played today at Tokyo Dome.