Sports in Brief: Report: Nike payoff helped cover up Armstrong doping

Nike reportedly paid $500,000 to the former president of Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body for sports cycling and international competitions, to cover up one of Lance Armstrong's positive drug tests, according to a report Tuesday from the New York Daily News. Nike denied any involvement in covering up doping allegations.

The International Olympics Committee said it will wait for cycling's governing body to act on Armstrong's doping case before it considers taking away his bronze medal from the 2000 Games.

The Olympic body also will look into removing ex-Armstrong teammate Levi Leipheimer's bronze after his admission of doping.

 MLB: Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout achieved an unprecedented double when he was chosen as the major league Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year by Baseball America.

The Millville, N.J., native, 21, is a virtual lock to be selected the American League Rookie of the Year in voting by the Baseball Writers Association. He is a candidate for the AL Most Valuable Player, which might go to Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who won the Triple Crown this year.

In a stunning performance by a player his age, Trout wound up the AL leader with 129 runs and with 49 stolen bases.

SOCCER: The U.S. team rode two goals and an assist from Clint Dempsey into the final round of 2014 World Cup qualifying, beating Guatemala, 3-1, in Kansas City, Kan.

Spain's record of 24 straight qualifying wins ended in Madrid when France substitute Olivier Giroud scored in the final moments of the match for a 1-1 draw in the campaign to reach the World Cup.

The Union's match at Sporting Kansas City next Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. will be broadcast nationally on the NBC Sports Network, but blacked out here. The match will air locally on the Comcast Network.

AUTO RACING: NASCAR announced competition changes for 2013 that include the elimination of the top 35 qualifying rule and a reduced field size in the Nationwide Series. Starting next season, the top 35 cars in owners' points will no longer be guaranteed a spot in the Sprint Cup field.

NASCAR will use a format in which the fastest 36 cars make the race. The next six highest-ranking cars in owners' points not already qualified then earn a starting spot, followed by the most recent eligible past champion driver. In the Nationwide Series, a maximum of 40 cars will race each week instead of 43.

TENNIS: Venus Williams cruised through her first match since the U.S. Open, beating 15-year-old rookie Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, 6-3, 6-1, in the Luxembourg Open's first round.

ARENA FOOTBALL: The Soul will hold an open tryout Saturday at the Nova-Care Complex. No kickers will be evaluated. Candidates can register before Thursday at www.philadelphiasoul.com. The cost is $60 for those who preregister and $80 at the door.

- Staff and wire reports