BRIEFLY : MARADONA FLUNKS ANOTHER DRUG TEST.

Diego Maradona has taken another tumble in his tumultuous soccer career, failing a drug test after the opening game of Argentina's Apertura league season.

The international soccer star tested positive for a banned substance, according to a spokesman for the Argentine soccer association.

The test was done Sunday after the Boca Juniors' victory over the Argentinos Juniors, the spokesman said.

Friday night, the spokesman told the Associated Press that the soccer association temporarily banned Maradona from playing. He has also been cited to appear before a commission on Tuesday.

Maradona, who has either been banned or retired four times, has acknowledged using cocaine in the past.

BOXING: Evander Holyfield returns to the ring to face fellow heavyweight champion Michael Moorer Nov. 8.

Holyfield will try to unify two parts of the heavyweight title when he meets Moorer in his first fight since earning $35 million to have his ears bitten by Mike Tyson June 28. Holyfield lost his WBA and IBF crowns to Moorer in a close decision April 22, 1994.

BASKETBALL: The NBA is delaying approval of the seven-year, $63 million contract free agent forward Brian Grant signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, pending a hearing to determine the status of Chris Dudley.

The league is investigating whether the Trail Blazers tried to circumvent the salary cap by renegotiating Dudley's three-year, $13 million contract to a one-year contract for the NBA minimum of $272,250.

The Atlanta Hawks and NBA steals leader Mookie Blaylock agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension. Blaylock would have been a free agent after the season.

Nykesha Sales scored 32 points to lead the United States past Cuba 100-82 for the women's basketball gold medal in the World University Games in Marsala, Sicily.

HOCKEY: The Mighty Ducks re-signed defenseman Darren Van Impe to a two-year contract. Van Impe, 24, had four goals and 19 assists in 74 games last season.

The Ottawa Senators signed defenseman Chris Phillips, 19, to a three-year contract, ending more than a year of negotiations with the top pick in the 1996 NHL draft.