Martha Karolyi declined to address Dominique Moceanu's criticisms of her, saying only that she was "sad" the Olympic gold medalist chose to focus on the hard times in training rather than the success she had.

In an interview scheduled to air last night on HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," Moceanu criticized Karolyi and her husband, Bela, for their strict training regimen and diet restrictions, and said Karolyi should be removed from her job as national team coordinator.

The Karolyis retired after Moceanu and her teammates won the gold medal in 1996, but Martha Karolyi has overseen the U.S. women's team since 2001.

"I feel sad that a gymnast so accomplished as Dominique, being part of the 1996 Olympic team and being the individual medalist in 1995 world championships ... can remember the harder days during the preparation," Karolyi said during a conference call to discuss the U.S. team for the Beijing Olympics. "I feel sad."

Karolyi acknowledged that it's not easy to become an elite athlete, let alone an Olympic champion. It's a long journey, and only the strongest athletes attain the highest levels of success, Karolyi said.

Most, though, would say it's worth it, Karolyi said.

"I think the majority of the girls certainly feel very proud they were able to train those many years and be dedicated and deal with the sacrifices," she said. "Just like in any other directions or any part of life, where in order to be successful, you really have to work hard."

More gymnastics

Rhythmic gymnastics judge Irina Deriugina will appeal the ban that would keep her from the Beijing and London Olympics on Monday. Deriugina will appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal her punishment for breaching five points of the International Gymnastics Federation code. She has been banned from judging until 2012.

Basketball

U.S. forward LeBron James left practice with what the team described as a mild right ankle sprain.

James landed on Kevin Durant's foot during a scrimmage between Team USA and a select squad of young NBA players.

"He thinks it's a mild sprain," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Our trainers think it's a mild sprain. So we'll find out tomorrow. But I don't think it's anything serious. Obviously, we'll look and see what happens tomorrow."

• Manu Ginobili missed a key free throw and Spain edged Olympic champion Argentina, 90-88. World champion Spain improved to 3-0 in Olympic warm-up games.

Jose Calderon led Spain with 18 points. Spain outrebounded Argentina, 32-28, before nearly succumbing to a late collapse.

Track and field

The new leader at USA Track and Field sent a letter to President Bush asking him to deny Marion Jones' request to commute her six-month prison sentence for lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and a check-fraud scam.

"As the new CEO of USA Track & Field, I have a moral and practical duty to make the case against her request," Doug Logan wrote in an open letter to the president, delivered yesterday.

Jones was sentenced in January to six months in prison and 400 hours of community service in each of the two years after her release.

• Olympic triple jump champion Christian Olsson pulled out of the Beijing Games because his hamstring was injured last night in Stockholm, Sweden.

Olsson pulled a muscle in his fourth jump at the DN Galan meet. He finished third with a jump of 55 feet, 9¹/₄ inches that he recorded in the second round.

Soccer

Schalke defender Rafinha and Werder Bremen midfielder Diego have joined Brazil's Olympic team without the permission of their German clubs. Schalke said it would seek to suspend Rafinha after he failed to report to a training camp Monday. He is believed to be with Brazil's team in Paris.