Auto racing

Biffle cites scheduling conflict for missing visit with Obama

NASCAR driver Greg Biffle of Vancouver, Wash., is miffed at reports he rebuffed an invitation from President Obama to visit the White House.

Biffle, Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards won't be going to the White House on Wednesday. Eight other drivers who made last year's Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff and NASCAR chairman Brian France will visit Obama.

"First of all, I'll say that I'm disgusted by the comments I see, where people say we rejected (the invitation)," Biffle, 41, told NASCAR Wire Service. "For one, that's disrespectful from people not knowing why I can't go. Number two, I've got a picture of myself and the president — Barack Obama — in my bookshelf in my office, right behind my desk, shaking hands at the White House.

"I've been there. I've done that and I respect that and I was very flattered to get the invitation. I got the invitation less than two weeks ago. I've got a function that I'm obligated to be at with (primary sponsor) 3M in Minnesota that they've had planned for basically nine months."

Track and field

Phillips earns gold at worlds

American Dwight Phillips won a fourth outdoor title in the long jump and the U.S. 1,600-meter relay team also earned a gold medal at the world championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Phillips won with a leap of 27 feet, 8 ½ inches.

NHL

Belak reportedly had depression

The mother of Wade Belak, who played for five league teams before retiring in March, said her son had suffered from depression.

Belak was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. He was 35.

Lorraine Belak said the cause of death would be released in the coming days.

Elsewhere

• Researchers at Boston University are studying the brain of deceased NHL player Derek Boogaard to determine whether he suffered from a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated hits to the head.

The 28-year-old former New York Ranger died in May because of an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.

• Former NBA player Jay Vincent, 52, was sentenced to more than five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $110,000 to the Internal Revenue Service for his part in a fraud case involving thousands of people who paid to become certified home inspectors.

Prosecutors say Vincent and an associate defrauded about 20,000 people out of more than $1 million by charging them to become inspectors through a business called Foreclosure Bank Inspection. No inspectors were hired.

• San Antonio forward DeJuan Blair has signed to play in Russia during the NBA lockout, according to his agent, Happy Walters.

Yahoo Sports reported the deal was with Krasnye Krylya Samara and contained an opt-out clause allowing Blair to return when the lockout ends.

• Six cities are competing to host the 2020 Olympics. Submitting bids to the International Olympic Committee by Friday's deadline were Rome; Tokyo; Madrid, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Doha, Qatar; and Baku, Azerbaijan.

• Swiss cyclist Michael Albasini of the HTC-Highroad team won the 13th stage of the Spanish Vuelta and Briton Bradley Wiggins of the Sky team held on to the overall leader's red jersey for a third consecutive day.

Albasini finished the 98.3-mile mountain course from Sarria to Ponferrada in 4 hours, 19 minutes, 39 seconds.

Wiggins leads teammate Christopher Froome of Britain by seven seconds.

American Taylor Phinney of the BMC team pulled out of the Vuelta because of fatigue.

Seattle Times news services