PITTSBURGH - Former All-Pro linebacker Jason Gildon was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers Wednesday in a long-expected move that creates $3.65 million of salary cap room for the team.

Gildon, who will be 32 next month, learned weeks ago he would be traded or released. The Steelers also told him not to attend last month's minicamp or their ongoing voluntary coaching sessions, though he has worked out by himself at the team's practice complex.

Gildon has seen his sacks total decline from 13½ in 2000 and 12 in 2001 to nine in 2002 and six last season.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Kordell Stewart agreed to a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens Wednesday.The former Steelers quarterback will receive the league minimum $760,000 to replace the injured Anthony Wright as the backup to quarterback Kyle Boller.

TAMPA, Fla. - Calgary Flames left wing Ville Nieminen was suspended for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals tonight, two days after ramming Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier's head into the glass.Nieminen drew a 5-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for ramming Lecavalier from behind while the Tampa Bay center was digging the puck out from along the boards late in Game 4. Lecavalier struck the glass face-first.

KIEV, Ukraine - Ukrainian shot putter Vita Pavlysh was stripped of her world indoor title and banned from the sport for life Wednesday after testing positive for steroids a second time.Pavlysh tested positive during the world indoor championships in Budapest, Hungary, in March, Ukrainian federation vice president Yuriy Karpiuk said.BC-Sports Briefs,0737Wednesday's Sports In BriefBy The Associated PressTENNISPARIS - Gustavo Kuerten's bid for a fourth French Open title ended when David Nalbandian won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (6) to give Argentina three men's semifinalists.The No. 8-seeded Nalbandian's opponent in the semifinals Friday will be unseeded compatriot Gaston Gaudio, who beat No. 12 Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. No. 3 Guillermo Coria of Argentina will play No. 9 Tim Henman of Britain in the other semifinal.Spain had three men's semifinalists at Roland Garros two years ago. But Argentina has never before advanced more than two men as far as the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam event.HOCKEYBASEBALLOAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez is expected to be sidelined for six weeks with a broken hand and was placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Oakland Athletics.Chavez was hurt in the 11th inning of Oakland's 6-4, 12-inning win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. He was hit by a pitch from Damaso Marte.FOOTBALLDENVER (AP) - Defensive tackle Daryl Gardener's brief and tumultuous stint with the Denver Broncos formally ended when he was waived by the team.The move was expected. Gardener was suspended twice last season for conduct detrimental to the team, and in March he and the team settled a dispute over his $5 million signing bonus.TRACK AND FIELDIt's the second time Pavlysh has been stripped of a gold medal from the world indoor championships. She tested positive after winning the shot put at the 1999 world indoors in Japan and was suspended for two years.Under international rules, athletes committing a second steroid violation receive a life ban.The Budapest gold medal will go to the original second-place finisher, Svetlana Krivelyova of Russia.SOCCERZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - Kenya was banned from international soccer by FIFA, which cited government interference in the country's national federation.The ruling bars Kenya's national teams and clubs from exhibitions or international games, including the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup.GYMNASTICSNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Blaine Wilson withdrew from the U.S. Gymnastics Championships after learning that competing could affect his injury petition for the Olympic trials.The five-time national champion is just 13 weeks removed from a horrific injury in which his left biceps muscle was torn completely off the bone. Recovery time is normally six months, but he's made a stunning comeback and had considered doing an event or two at nationals this week.The withdrawal clears the way for Wilson to petition into the Olympic trials, which are June 24-27 in Anaheim, Calif. USA Gymnastics will almost certainly grant the petition.AP-ES-06-03-04 0554EDT