BRIEFLY : IOC WANTS BASEBALL TO BAN ANDRO USE.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

The International Olympic Committee plans to lobby baseball and other professional sports in the United States to conform with the Olympics' drug policy, including a ban on the muscle-building compound used by St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire.

IOC medical director Patrick Schamasch confirmed Monday that he would meet with baseball officials to encourage them to adopt the IOC's list of banned substances.

``I don't want to focus on one substance, but I will say, `Let's harmonize the list,' '' Schamasch said.

McGwire has acknowledged he has used the performance-enhancing supplement Androstenedione for the past year.

Andro was added to the IOC's banned list last year under the category of anabolic androgenic steroids.

Anita DeFrantz, who as IOC vice president is the highest-ranking American in the Olympic movement, said she was worried about the moral example set by McGwire.

``I care about kids,'' she said. ``In my working life, I serve youth through sports. I worry children will think, `OK, here's how you break all the records.' What they don't know is how hard you still have to work.''

The New York Yankees' Darryl Strawberry was suspended for three games and Toronto's Bill Risley was banned for two because of their actions in a brawl last Friday.

Both suspensions were scheduled to start Wednesday. Strawberry said he would not appeal the suspension.

After Roger Clemens of the Blue Jays allowed a game-tying sacrifice fly, he hit Scott Brosius in the back with his next pitch. Yankees starter Hideki Irabu hit Shannon Stewart in the elbow the next inning.

Both benches emptied and Strawberry threw a wild punch that didn't connect.

Toronto pitcher Pat Hentgen has tendinitis in his right shoulder and will be sidelined for the rest of the regular season. Hentgen, the 1996 AL Cy Young Award winner, might be able to return if the Blue Jays advance to the playoffs.

BASKETBALL: An arbitrator extended to Friday the deadline for the NBA and its union to file post-hearing briefs in the case that will determine if players with guaranteed contracts will be paid during the lockout.

The previous deadline was Wednesday, a week after the lawyers for the NBA and players association presented closing arguments. After briefs are filed, arbitrator John Feerick will have 30 days to rule.

If Feerick sides with the players, it could bring about a speedy resolution to the 10-week-old lockout.

HOCKEY: Esa Tikkanen is back with the New York Rangers, trying to earn a spot on the team for a third time.

The Rangers invited Tikkanen, who finished the 1996-97 season with the team and was a member of its 1994 Stanley Cup-winning squad, to training camp beginning Friday.

The 33-year-old left wing finished last season with the Washington Capitals, helping them to their first-ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance. He was acquired from the Florida Panthers in March.

LOCAL: Flintridge Sacred Heart outside hitter Megan Hosp became the first local volleyball player this season to commit to a college when she made an oral commitment Sunday to South Carolina. She chose the Gamecocks over Fairfield.

BOXING: Jesus Salud, a former WBA champion, knocked out David Vazquez in the second round of a super bantamweight fight at the Forum.

Vazquez was floored midway through the second round by a hard right by Salud but got right back up. After receiving an eight count, Vazquez was allowed to continue until the fight was stopped at 2:28.

Salud, 35, of San Diego, improved to 58-9 with 35 knockouts. Vazquez, 21, of Blythe, fell to 13-4-2 with eight knockouts.

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