CHICAGO — Goalkeeper Hope Solo was among 18 players picked for the U.S. Olympic women’s soccer roster, nine months after she was kicked off the team at the World Cup.

Briana Scurry, who took over from Solo for last year’s World Cup semifinal loss to Brazil, was left off the roster by coach Pia Sundhage, who replaced Greg Ryan following the World Cup debacle.

Solo was the starter for most of 2007, but Ryan surprisingly replaced her with Scurry for the semifinal, which the Americans lost 4-0. Solo criticized Ryan, saying she would have made the saves, and was dropped from the team.

Half the roster was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Defenders Christie Rampone and Kate Markgraf, the co-captains, will be in their third Olympics. Also returning from the 2004 team are defender Heather Mitts; midfielders Shannon Boxx, Angela Hucles, Heather O’Reilly, Lindsay Tarpley and Aly Wagner; and forward Abby Wambach.

BASKETBALL

Nuggets suspend Anthony

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets have suspended NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony for the first two games of next season for his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in April.

The announcement by the team Monday comes a day before Anthony is scheduled to enter a plea in the case.

Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said in a statement the team will continue to support Anthony as he “strives to live up to the high expectations” set by the Nuggets and by Anthony.

Warkentien also said in the statement the team takes “drinking and driving very seriously” and they will continue to handle the matter internally and will not comment further.

Anthony was arrested April 14 on Interstate 25.

HORSE RACING

Big Brown’s owner pledges to end use of steroids

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Big Brown’s owner doesn’t want to wait for the federal government to come in and clean up horse racing.

Michael Iavarone, the co-owner of IEAH Stables said the 50-plus horses owned by the syndicate will be drug free by the end of the year. That includes steroids and all other legal racing medications except for Lasix.

Iavarone said last week’s congressional hearing in which owners, veterinarians and industry officials expressed a strong desire to rid the sport of steroids led to the decision.

FOOTBALL

Strahan joins Fox

NEW YORK — Michael Strahan is taking his gap-toothed grin to Fox.

The charismatic former New York Giants defensive end, who retired earlier this month, will join the network’s NFL pregame show, a person with knowledge of the hiring confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday. The person requested anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made. Fox is scheduled to hold a news conference Tuesday.

The move was first reported by SI.com.

The 36-year-old Strahan made seven Pro Bowls in his 15 NFL seasons and recorded the fifth most sacks in league history. He went out on top, winning a Super Bowl title in February.

Strahan’s agent, Maury Gostfrand, did not return phone messages.