25 Schools Accused of Gender Discrimination

Twenty-five colleges and universities, including Vanderbilt, Duke, Boston College and Brigham Young, were accused Monday of discriminating against women in awarding athletic scholarships.

The National Women’s Law Center filed complaints with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, accusing the schools of violating the 1972 law known as Title IX. The organization alleges that female athletes receive just over one-third of the scholarship dollars nationwide.

If female athletes at the 25 schools received a fair share, meaning scholarship dollars more in line with female athletic participation, the center estimated, they would get $5 million more.

Title IX, a federal law credited by many with changing the face of women’s sports and influencing society’s attitudes about women, bans discrimination in education based on sex. All public and private colleges that receive federal money are covered by the law.

The Education Department will evaluate the complaints within 135 days. Center officials said they are prepared to file a lawsuit if no remedies are implemented.

Track and Field

A day after winning the title of “World’s Fastest Man,” Donovan Bailey apologized for calling rival Michael Johnson a “coward” and a “chicken” after beating him in a 150-meter match race.

Johnson, the 200-meter world-record holder, pulled up lame about halfway through the race in Toronto. Bailey then criticized the American, all but accusing him of faking the injury to his left leg.

“I want to apologize to Michael Johnson,” Bailey said in a statement. “Michael and I began this unique event as friends, but the build-up to the race has left the friendship strained.

“I have tremendous respect for Michael’s athletic ability and I hope that the injury he sustained is not season-threatening. I wish him a speedy return to competition.”

Mary Slaney doesn’t intend to follow Butch Reynolds’ route and seek a court order allowing her to compete in next week’s U.S. Track and Field Championships, according to Richard Slaney, her husband.

Saturday, the International Amateur Athletic Federation suspended Slaney and two other U.S. athletes pending a hearing for suspected use of performance-enhancing substances. Slaney is entered in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters in the U.S. championships, which begin June 11 in Indianapolis. But USA Track & Field attorneys were considering whether to allow Slaney to run despite the IAAF ruling.

Frankie Fredericks won the 100 meters at an international track meet just north of Paris in 10.09 seconds.

World 1,500-meter record holder Qu Yunxia finished 10th in the Chinese national track and field championships and said she will retire.

Pro football

The Washington Redskins signed Jamel Williams, one of their four fifth-round draft picks, to a three-year contract worth $578,000. They also signed fourth-year offensive tackle Joe Patton to a one-year contract worth $361,000.

The Cowboys opened their off-season workouts without wide receiver Michael Irvin, but signed free-agent receiver Anthony Miller.

Free-agent receivers Michael Timpson and Russell Copeland signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and tight end Jimmie Johnson also agreed to a contract.

Eric Metcalf of the San Diego Chargers strained his right hamstring Saturday during the “Run to Daylight” made-for-TV competition and won’t be able to run during the team’s mini-camp.

Miscellany

The first two Big Ten basketball tournaments will be held in the United Center in Chicago. . . . Duke University Athletic Director Tom Butters underwent a quadruple bypass after suffering a heart attack in Maryland. . . . Tim Jankovich resigned as men’s basketball coach at North Texas.