Sports briefs

Panthers' Smith carted off practice field

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith was carted to the locker room after a collision at practice.

Smith immediately grabbed his right arm, but the type of injury wasn't immediately clear.

The four-time Pro Bowl receiver fell to the turf after getting tangled with cornerback Chris Gamble early in Monday evening's workout. He winced, took off his helmet and kicked it before walking to a nearby tent. He was then taken inside.

Smith had 78 catches for 1,421 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Women's ski jumper appeal-court date set

VANCOUVER — The appeal of the 14 elite women ski jumpers proceeding against the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee for a declaration to be allowed to participate in the 2010 Olympic Games will be heard Nov. 12-13 in the BC Court of Appeal.

According to the plaintiffs' lawyer Ross Clark, Q.C., the argument he plans to put forward is simple and straightforward, focusing on the discrimination and the fact of VANOC being a government entity as found by Madam Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon.

Deedee Corradini, president of Women's Ski Jumping-USA, said she is very pleased the decision is being appealed and that VANOC has pledged to "move heaven and earth" to get the women ski jumpers in if ordered to do so.

"Once we had a chance to review the Supreme Court judge's decision and to consult with our lawyers and the jumpers, we knew we had to appeal," she explained.

Anshutz adds name to World Cup bid

NEW YORK — Philip Anschutz, head of the company that owns Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo, is joining the board of the U.S. bid committee for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Anschutz's companies have owned the Chicago Fire, San Jose Earthquakes, New York/New Jersey MetroStars and D.C. United in MLS.

Other board members include former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, University of Miami president Donna Shalala, men's national team star Landon Donovan and former women's team star Mia Hamm.

England and Spain are seen as the leading contenders to host in 2018, while the United States is viewed as a top candidate for 2022.

Jamaican doping commission confused

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica's Anti-Doping Commission says it plans to appeal a ruling from a panel in its own organization that found there wasn't enough evidence to prove that five athletes used a banned substance in June.

The commission released a statement late Monday saying four athletes had tested positive for a substance similar in chemical structure to a stimulant banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

— wire services