By The Associated Press

Published: Thursday, July 09, 2009
Updated: Thursday, July 9, 2009 10:46 AM CDT

Here's a look at Wednesday's sports in brief around the world.

BASEBALL

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Weiner has been approved unanimously by the Major League Baseball Players Association executive board to succeed Donald Fehr as the union’s head.

The board decided during a conference call Tuesday to put the decision to a vote of its full membership, which includes players, managers, coaches and trainers.

Weiner was hired by the union as a lawyer in 1988 and became general counsel, its No. 3 position, five years ago. The union said it anticipates Weiner will take over after the season. Fehr announced his intention to retire on June 22, and recommended Weiner get the job.

NEW YORK (AP) — The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency urged Major League Baseball to adopt its code, which includes a two-year suspension for an athlete’s first positive test.

MLB and the players’ association have toughened their drug rules three times since their initial agreement in August 2002, and MLB executive vice president for labor relations Rob Manfred quickly dismissed criticism by WADA president John Fahey, calling him “sadly misinformed.” The current policy calls for 50-game suspensions for first offenses, 100-game penalties for second offenses and lifetime bans for third violations.

WADA specifies a lifetime ban for a second offense.

FOOTBALL

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) — A group including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Seahawks coach Jim Mora reached the summit of Mount Rainier.

The team made it to the summit of the 14,411-foot volcano at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday and was back at Camp Muir by about 2:30 p.m., said Jered Erlandson, a spokesman for United Way of King County. The climb is a fundraiser for the Seattle charity.

Only about half the roughly 9,000 climbers who annually attempt to reach Rainier’s peak succeed. Altitude sickness, along with weather, are the biggest obstacles to completing the climb up the tallest peak in the rugged Cascade range.

SWIMMING

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michael Phelps won the 200-meter freestyle and 200 butterfly at the U.S. nationals, earning himself a trip to the world championships later this month.

Aaron Peirsol created the biggest buzz at the Indiana University Natatorium pool by reclaiming his world record in the 100 backstroke. The Olympic champion trailed Matt Grevers at 50 meters before pouring it on down the stretch to win in 51.94 seconds.

Peirsol became the first person to swim under 52 seconds in the event he has dominated for much of this decade. He has lowered the world record six times.

SOCCER

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African construction workers went on an indefinite strike at stadiums being built for the 2010 World Cup — a move that could derail Africa’s historic first World Cup tournament.

Thousands of workers at stadiums across the country put down their tools after wage negotiations deadlocked earlier this week. Workers are demanding a 13 percent pay increase while employers are offering 10.4 percent.

The venues need to be completed by December to meet deadlines set by the game’s ruling body FIFA before the tournament kicks off in June 2010.

HOCKEY

SAN JOSE (AP) — Claude Lemieux announced his retirement again, wrapping up a 21-year NHL career with four Stanley Cups.

The 44-year-old forward came back from a five-year retirement in December to sign with the San Jose Sharks, where he had one assist in 18 games last season.

Lemieux won four Stanley Cups (Montreal 1986; New Jersey 1995, 2000; Colorado 1996), one of only eight players to win the prize with three different teams. He scored 379 goals in his career and had 80 playoff goals and competed in 234 playoff games, fifth all-time.

Lemieux was the MVP of the 1995 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Devils.

AUTO RACING

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR asked an appeals court to ban Jeremy Mayfield from racing, alleging the participation of “a proven methamphetamine user” could lead to fatal consequences for other competitors and fans.

NASCAR wants the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen’s decision last week to lift Mayfield’s indefinite suspension following a positive drug test.

Mayfield attorney John Buric scoffed at the idea Mayfield is a potential danger and revealed the driver was tested twice Monday — once at an independent laboratory and once at his home by NASCAR.

LONDON (AP) — Formula One’s fragile peace deal was thrown into doubt when eight leading teams walked out of a meeting with the governing body after being told they had not been entered into the 2010 championship and would have no say on finalizing cost-cutting measures.

The Formula One Teams Association accused the FIA of reneging on a deal that saw them halt plans to form a breakaway series. At a meeting two weeks ago, the FIA backed down on plans to implement a voluntary budget cap that had angered FOTA.

Under their agreement, FOTA teams agreed to cut costs to 1990s levels and FIA announced they would be entered into the 2010 championship. But at Wednesday’s meeting, the FOTA teams were told that was not the case by the FIA’s technical chief.