Thorpe admits depression in book

SYDNEY — Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe says he's spent much of his life battling "crippling depression," occasionally considered suicide and often turned to heavy alcohol consumption to manage his moods.

In an extract of Thorpe's upcoming book, "This is Me: The Autobiography," published in Australian media Saturday, he said he had never spoken openly about his mental condition to friends or family.

"Not even my family is aware that I've spent a lot of my life battling what I can only describe as a crippling depression."

Thorpe, 30, said while he did not consider himself an alcoholic, he relied on it more and more as time went on.

He retired in November 2006 after setting 13 individual world records and winning 11 world championship golds. He won the 200 and 400 free at the 2004 Athens Olympics in his last major international meet. He came out of retirement last year, but failed to qualify for the London Olympics.

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Skater admits to tampering charges

SALT LAKE CITY — Olympic speedskater Simon Cho admitted Friday to tampering with a Canadian rival's skates, but claimed he did so under pressure from his coach. He called it the "biggest mistake of my life."

"I am deeply embarrassed and sad to confirm certain allegations that have been made in the arbitration demand brought by a group of my fellow speedskaters against U.S. Speedskating and the coaches," Cho said in a statement issued by his attorney Friday morning.

Cho's comments confirmed one allegation made in the arbitration demand that seeks to permanently remove U.S. coach Chun Jae Su. Chun has denied any wrongdoing but is suspended.

Cho said the tampering occurred at the 2011 World Team Championships in Poland after he had already been eliminated from the competition.

"Although the skate belonged to Olivier Jean, I had no intention to single him out," Cho said in the statement. "It was the biggest mistake of my life and one that I regret with all my heart. I apologize to Olivier and the Canadian team — I have great respect for Olivier and the Canadian team and have never held any bad feelings toward them. I also apologize to all those involved in speedskating for my poor judgment and bad sportsmanship."

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Doni admits to match-fixing role

Cremona, Italy — Former Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni has reportedly admitted helping to fix Serie B matches involving his team last season. He said he agreed to go along with the scam because his team was not supposed to lose.

Doni was among 16 people arrested across Italy on Monday in an ongoing investigation into match-fixing and illegal betting on games.

After five days of solitary confinement, Doni was permitted to meet with his lawyer Friday and was questioned by prosecutors.

"Yes, I knew about the fix for Atalanta-Piacenza. I gave my approval and I bet," Doni is quoted as saying by Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport. "I also tried to do the same thing for the match with Ascoli. But they were all personal initiatives, I'm not part of any organization. . . . The club didn't know anything."

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A-Rod's doctor admits wrongdoing

Buffalo New York — A Canadian sports doctor whose high-profile clients have included Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to bringing unapproved drugs, including human growth hormone, into the United States to unlawfully treat pro athletes.

Dr. Anthony Galea, a healing specialist from Toronto who was sought out by the biggest names in sports, was indicted by a federal grand jury in October on charges that he smuggled human growth hormone and other substances into the United States and lied to border agents to avoid getting caught. He faces similar charges in Canada.

Some of the U.S. charges were dismissed with his plea.

Galea, who wasn't licensed to work in the United States, was accused of treating 20 professional athletes at their homes, hotels and friends' houses from October 2007 to September 2009.

The indictment did not identify any clients, but prosecutors said they included golfers, professional baseball and football players and others.

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