BRIEFLY : CENSURE FOR IOC PAIR.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Two leading International Olympic Committee members, including the highest-ranking official implicated so far, escaped with severe warnings Friday as investigators wrapped up their inquiry of the Olympics' bribery scandal.

An internal commission recommended that Kim Un-yong, an executive board member from South Korea, and Phil Coles, a key player in bringing the 2000 Games to Sydney, Australia, be strongly censured for actions displaying serious conflicts of interest or lapses in judgment.

It warned that they could be expelled if misconduct recurred. And the chief investigator said he suspected there was evidence, yet uncovered, that would call for Kim's ouster.

The panel expelled one member, Samoa's Seiuli Paul Wallwork.

Meanwhile, after denying for weeks he made any mistakes, IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch now says he should have acted earlier to curb the corruption.

FOOTBALL: Free safety Darren Perry, a Pittsburgh Steelers starter since he came into the NFL in 1992, agreed to terms of a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers worth approximately $3.2 million. The Steelers have now lost both of their starting safeties. Carnell Lake signed recently with Jacksonville.

UCLA cornerback Jason Bell, a senior who started all 12 games for the Bruins last year, is expected to undergo surgery Monday to remove bone chips from his right foot. Bell said he will miss spring practice, which begins April 6, but should be at full strength by the start of fall camp.

- Billy Witz

GOLF: CBS commentator Gary McCord, playing his first tournament of the year, fired a 4-under-par 67 to share the first-round lead at the Toshiba Senior Classic at Newport Beach. Tom Jenkins, John Jacobs and Bruce Summerhays were tied with McCord.

Eric Booker, a 35-year-old PGA Tour rookie, shot a 6-under-par 66 for a four-shot lead after two rounds of the Honda Classic at Coral Springs, Fla.

Nancy Scranton, who has missed four cuts in six tournaments this year, shot 7-under-par 65 to share the lead with Dale Eggeling in the LPGA Welch's-Circle K Championship at Tucson, Ariz.

MOTOR SPORTS: Bobby Labonte turned a lap of 194.957 mph at Atlanta Motor Speedway to win his second pole in a row, this one for Sunday's NASCAR Cracker Barrel 500. Labonte also took the top qualifying spot for last Sunday's Las Vegas 400.

VOLLEYBALL: Kathleen O'Laughlin, Cal State Northridge women's volleyball assistant coach for the past three seasons, announced this week she has resigned because of family conflicts.