Broadcaster Albert Charged in Biting, Assaulting Woman

Marv Albert, the versatile sportscaster and voice of the NBA on NBC, was charged with biting a woman in an Arlington, Va., hotel room as many as 15 times and forcing her to perform oral sex.

Albert was accused of attacking a 41-year-old Vienna, Va., woman he had known for 10 years. If convicted of forcible sodomy and assault, he could get up to life in prison.

Albert, 53, will be allowed to turn himself in next week at a time to be arranged by his attorney.

“I categorically deny these charges and intend to vigorously defend myself against these allegations,” Albert said Tuesday in a statement. “I am confident that I will be completely exonerated when these allegations are addressed in a public courtroom.”

NBC said it would not comment on the indictment until it had a chance to review the allegations with Albert.

Albert and the woman began arguing after Albert invited the woman to his room at the Ritz Carlton hotel early on Feb. 12, police spokesman Tom Bell said Tuesday.

Golf

Colin Montgomerie of Scotland won the European leg of the Andersen World Championship at Denham, England, by defeating countryman and defending European champion Sam Torrance in the semifinals, and Italy’s Costantino Rocca in the final.

Tennis

Andre Agassi, a two-time French Open finalist who has played sparingly this year, withdrew from next week’s French Open because of an injured right wrist.

Defending French Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia lost to Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia in the opening round of the Raiffeisen Grand Prix in St. Poelten. . . . Steffi Graf of Germany defeated Patricia Hy-Boulais of Canada in the first round of the Strasbourg Open in France. . . . Arantxa Sanchez Vicario routed Spanish compatriot Maria Luisa Serna in the opening round of the Yellow Pages Open at Madrid, Spain.

Australia defeated the United States, 2-1, when Olympic champions Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde rallied past Alex O’Brien and Jonathan Stark in a doubles match held over from Monday at the World Team Cup at Duesseldorf, Germany.

Pro Football

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown acknowledged that a loophole in the 49ers’ lease could allow the team to move before the 1998 season. Brown said the city hasn’t kept up with maintenance and improvements at Candlestick Park mandated in a 1985 agreement with the 49ers.

Brown said the city could be faced with a repair bill for up to $117 million to ensure the team stays for the balance of the lease, which doesn’t expire until 2007.

Linebacker Joe Cain, who had four consecutive 100-tackle seasons with Chicago, signed a $1.6-million, two-year contract with Seattle. . . . Cornerback Otis Smith, who spent part of last season with the New York Jets and then helped the New England Patriots reach the Super Bowl, signed a free-agent contract with the Jets.

Soccer

Aston Villa, one of the top teams in English soccer, plays the Galaxy in an exhibition match tonight at 7:30 at the Rose Bowl.

Track and Field

Istvan Gyulai, the International Amateur Athletic Federation general secretary, attacked the United States for its sluggish handling of the recent doping cases of Sandra Farmer-Patrick and Mary Slaney and other routine drug-related matters at last year’s Atlanta Olympics.

Gyulai said it was unacceptable that it had taken nearly a year for the U.S. to ban Farmer-Patrick for four years after a positive test for the steroid testosterone. Farmer-Patrick was allowed to compete at the Atlanta Games because the case had not been concluded. The case of Slaney, who also tested positive for testosterone at the U.S. trials last June, has yet to be concluded.

Miscellany

The IOC upheld the result of Roy Jones Jr.’s disputed loss at the 1988 Seoul Olympics in the 156-pound light-middleweight final to South Korea’s Park Si-Hun. . . . Carrie Dolan, an All-American pitcher for Arizona’s softball team, was dismissed from the squad before the Wildcats left for the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. Coach Mike Candrea said Dolan “broke a team policy” but did not elaborate. . . . Women’s skeet and trap shooting along with a return of women’s duet synchronized swimming was approved by the IOC Executive Board for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. The IOC, however, will not expand the limit on the number of athletes competing. . . . Classic Sports Network has reached agreements with the NFL, NHL and Big Fights Inc., to be their sole programming partner in televising nostalgia sports.