Lance Armstrong went on the offensive Wednesday, saying it was "preposterous" for the director of the Tour de France to suggest the seven-time champion "fooled" race officials and the sporting world by doping.

He also took to task the French newspaper that accused him, the laboratory that released the urine samples in question and any officials of the Tour and sports ministries involved in putting the story together.

L'Equipe reported Tuesday that six urine samples Armstrong provided during his first tour win in 1999 tested positive for the red blood cell-booster EPO.

Armstrong questioned the validity of testing samples frozen seven years ago and how those samples were handled since. He also charged officials at the suburban Paris laboratory with violating World Anti-Doping Agency code for failing to safeguard the anonymity of any remaining 'B' samples it had.

NEW YORK - Venus and Serena Williams landed in the same section of the U.S. Open draw Wednesday - setting them up for a possible fourth-round match - with the winner potentially facing favorite Kim Clijsters in the quarters.No. 8 Serena starts against a qualifier while No. 10 Venus opens against Japan's Rika Fujiwara.Men's No. 1 Roger Federer is seeded to meet No. 5 Marat Safin in the semis, and No. 2 Rafael Nadal could meet No. 7 Andre Agassi, who he beat in Montreal, in the quarters.

CANTON, Ohio - John Madden, a legendary coach and one of the NFL's best-known television personalities, was named a finalist Thursday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with former Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Rayfield Wright.The two, chosen by the Hall's seniors committee, will be joined by 13 other candidates from the modern era. The selection vote will be on Feb. 4, 2006, the day before the Super Bowl in Detroit.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter will miss the season after having his third season-ending knee surgery in four seasons.Buckhalter underwent surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in his right knee, the same one he injured in a preseason game last year.Buckhalter also missed all of the 2002 season after tearing a ligament in his left knee in minicamp.