SPORT

Son of Pete Rose pleads guilty to distributing drugs to teammates

Photo: Pete Rose Jr.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee- Pete Rose Jr., the son of baseball's all-time hits leader, pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he distributed GBL, a drug sometimes sold as a steroid alternative, to his minor league teammates. The 35-year-old Rose wore a suit and tie when he appeared before a federal judge in Nashville, saying nothing but "yes, sir" when asked if he understood the charges and his plea. The Drug Enforcement Administration said Rose's arrest was part of a larger investigation into a major GBL trafficking organization. Rose surrendered to authorities shortly before he entered his guilty plea. The indictment said Rose admitted he received GBL from a person in Tennessee while a member of the Chattanooga Lookouts, the double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. He also said he supplied half the players on that team with the drug. Rose said his teammates would take GBL to "wind down" after games, DEA spokesman Rusty Payne said. Under a deal with prosecutors, Rose could be sentenced to 21 to 27 months in federal prison and fined up to $1 million US. GBL, or gamma butyrolactone, is sold under the counter at retailers and gyms with claims to build muscle, improve physical performance, enhance sex, reduce stress and induce sleep. When taken orally, GBL is converted to the "date-rape" drug GHB, or gamma hydroxybutyrate.Lookouts assistant general manager John Maedel said Monday the team was aware of the story. "We don't know anything about it and can't comment," he said. Maedel said Rose was on the Chattanooga roster in 1997, 2001 and 2002. -by John Gerone

Thai female drug convict loses her bid for WBC title, freedom

Photo: Thailand's Nongmai Sor Siriporn, right, and Nanako Kikuchi of Japan exchange punches during their WBC strawweight title fight at a stadium in Pathum Thani prison, Monday.

PRATHUM THANI, Thailand- A convicted Thai drug dealer lost her bid for the WBC strawweight title - and the chance to get out of prison more than a year ahead of schedule. Fighting in what was billed as the first title match to be held in a prison, 28-year-old Nongmai Sor Siriporn was knocked out in the seventh round by a faster and more seasoned Japanese challenger, Nanako Kikuchi, on Monday. "I am disappointed in myself but I will continue to fight to show to the outside world that even behind bars, I can be a good sportswoman," said Nongmai, whose birth name is Wannee Chaisena. Authorities at the prison just north of Bangkok said that despite her loss, they may consider finding some other way to reward her efforts. "Even though she lost today, Nongmai is a great fighter," said Nathee Chitsawang, director general of the Thai prison system. "We will see how we can reduce her jail term." The Japanese contender expressed surprise that her victory would keep Nongmai behind bars, saying she had been thinking only about winning the match. "I wanted to make the best of it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Kikuchi, a 30-year-old former freelance photographer. According to the WBC's website, Nongmai was the third-ranked boxer in the strawweight class and Kikuchi was 11th. The title has been vacant. A first-time offender, Nongmai grew up in a poor family in the Thai capital of Bangkok, where her family had to sell clothing by the roadside to survive. She has 14 months left on her six-year sentence for drug dealing, but prison officials had promised her she would be released immediately if she won. Dressed in red with her hair in braids, the imposing Nongmai met with her brother and sister ahead of the match in an emotional reunion. The crowd of 300 prisoners and guards yelled her name as she entered the ring and cheered every time Nongmai landed a blow. Prison and WBC officials said she could serve as model for other prisoners struggling with drug problems, which often include addiction. A majority of the country's 230,000 prisoners have been convicted for drug offences. "Through boxing she was able to overcome her addiction and she sees this as a second chance in life," said the WBC's Patrick Cusick. "For her, this is a big, big break into her life. I mean, this is a real Rocky story." Authorities also acknowledged Monday's match was a chance to portray the country's prison system in a positive light and counter widespread perceptions that Thai jails are overcrowded and dangerous. "We have made a lot of improvements and we have passed the overcrowding stage," said Songuut Pattanakul, director of the Central Correctional Institution for Young Offenders. "We have emphasized improving prisoners' living standards. We want people to know that there have been changes in Thai prisons."

Prison authorities transformed the prison yard - in a men's prison adjacent to the women's facility - into a boxing ring complete with bleachers and a special area for diplomats and government officials. The match took on a festive air, with entertainment provided by a prison choir and marching band. Cheerleaders - one dressed in a pink dress and wearing a black mask - led the crowd in chants and women held up placards announcing each new round. Conditions in Thailand's crowded prison system have prompted the government in recent years to come up with several stress-relief programs for inmates, including meditation, soccer - and laughing contests. Men's prisons have long had kickboxing schools and authorities last year started similar programs for women. - By Sitan Wanabavorne.