BRIEFLY.

IOC can't get Italy to relax doping laws

The International Olympic Committee has conceded defeat in its effort to persuade the Italian government to impose a moratorium on a stringent law against doping during the Turin Games, which begin Feb. 10.

Now the IOC will begin planning for the possibility of athletes or coaches being arrested during the games.

IOC President Jacques Rogge had hoped that the Italian government would impose a moratorium on the anti-doping law during the Games, allowing the IOC to prosecute doping offenses according to the organization's guidelines, which parallel the World Anti-Doping Code.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The injuries continued to mount for the UCLA's men's basketball team when sophomore point guard Jordan Farmar suffered a right groin injury. Farmar was diagnosed with a groin strain and will be held out of practice for five days. He will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

Meanwhile, freshman power forward Alfred Aboya was cleared to begin non-contact practice, and could be cleared for contact on a limited basis in nine days.

Also, UCLA is 18th in the USA Today/ESPN Preseason top 25 poll.

-Brian Dohn

--Cal State Northridge center Thomas Shewmake sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee and is expected to miss another week or two of practice. CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said he's hopeful Shewmake will be back for the season-opener at USC on Nov. 20.

-Jill Painter

--Connecticut suspended guard A.J. Price for the entire 2005-06 season as a result of his arrest on charges of trying to sell stolen laptops this summer, but has allowed co-defendant Marcus Williams to return to the team in December.

-Daily News Staff and Wire Services