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From The Associated Press

Nadal to overtake Federer atop rankings

MASON, Ohio—For Rafael Nadal, moving up to No. 1 is just a matter of time.

The 22-year-old Spaniard made a change at the top inevitable Friday by advancing to the semifinals of the Cincinnati Masters. He beat Nicolas Lapentti 7-6 (3), 6-1 for his 32nd straight win, setting up a seismic shift in the world rankings.

After three years of chasing Roger Federer, he’s about to pass him.

Nadal would take over the top spot in next week’s rankings if he wins the tournament. Even if he fails, he now has piled up enough points in Cincinnati to overtake Federer when the rankings come out on Aug. 18. The rankings include points earned in the last 52 weeks, and time is on Nadal’s side.

“It’s emotional,” he said. “I know I’m going to be No. 1. Getting No. 1 is a present for a lot of work in the past, so it’s satisfying.”

Federer was knocked out of the tournament on Thursday, jeopardizing his streak of 235 consecutive weeks atop the rankings. Nadal has been right behind him since July 25, 2005, a span of 158 straight weeks.

Panthers receiver suspended 2 games

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Receiver Steve Smith was suspended two games by the Carolina Panthers after a training camp fight with cornerback Ken Lucas.

Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, will continue to practice when training camp resumes Monday and will be allowed to participate in preseason games, coach John Fox said Saturday.

Lucas, who left the practice field at Wofford College on Friday with ice over his left eye, has a broken nose, Fox said. Smith was kicked out of practice and sent back to Charlotte.

The melee came after both players had taken off their helmets in a break for starters during a special teams drill. It was unclear what provoked the fight. While the two have routinely jawed at each other in practice since Lucas signed with Carolina in 2005, they’ve never come to blows in view of reporters.

IOC strips gold from 2000 U.S. relay team

BEIJING—The International Olympic Committee has stripped gold medals from the U.S. men’s 1,600-meter relay team that competed at the 2000 Olympics. The move follows Antonio Pettigrew’s doping admission two months ago.

The IOC executive board disqualified the entire team.

This was the fourth gold medal and sixth overall stripped during the past eight months from the American track team that ran in Sydney. Three gold and two bronze medals were previously removed after Marion Jones confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Saturday’s decision was almost a formality after Pettigrew gave up his gold medal in June. He admitted in court in May that he used EPO and human growth hormone from 1997 to 2003.

Five of Pettigrew’s teammates also lost their medals: Michael Johnson and twins Alvin and Calvin Harrison ran in the final; Jerome Young and Angelo Taylor ran in the preliminaries.