Sports in brief

TOUR DE FRANCE

Wiggins on verge

Bradley Wiggins all but locked up the Tour de France title with a tour-de-force performance yesterday to win the final time trial, putting him on the cusp of becoming the first Briton to win cycling's showpiece race following today's final stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.

Wiggins blew away the field in Stage 19 in Chartres, France, his second Tour victory this year in a time trial, his specialty. Wiggins was timed in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 13 seconds. Countryman and teammate Christopher Froome was second, 1:16 behind. Overall, Wiggins has a 3:21 lead over Froome, who is second.

GOLF

Stallings hot

Scott Stallings opened a four-shot lead on Heath Slocum, Billy Horschel and Jason Bohn a little more than halfway through the third round of the True South Classic in Madison, Miss. With play suspended by darkness, Stallings has four birdies and an eagle through 10 holes and was at 18 under par.

NFL

Brees backs Vilma

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees says in a court affidavit that he had no knowledge of or saw any evidence of a bounty program on the team. Brees' statement, filed in a New Orleans federal court, is part of teammate Jonathan Vilma's motion to dismiss a full-season suspension from the NFL for his alleged involvement in the bounty program. Vilma has sued NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming defamation.

SOCCER

Cooper scores two

Kenny Cooper headed in two goals, scoring for the first time since May 23, to lead the Red Bulls to a 2-0 MLS victory over the Philadelphia Un- ion in Harrison, N.Y. The Red Bulls (11-5-5) remain undefeated at home this season, improving to 7-0-3. Cooper has 13 goals this season, four behind San Jose's Chris Wondolowski for the MLS lead.

OLYMPICS

Cox formally loses medal

American runner Crystal Cox was formally stripped of her gold medal from the 4 x 400-meter relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics after admitting to doping, and the IOC put off a decision on whether to disqualify the U.S. relay team. Cox admitted in 2010 to using anabolic steroids and accepted a four-year suspension and disqualification of her results from 2001 to 2004.-- AP