Pistorius Has One More Chance
Double-Amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius failed in his most recent bid to qualify for the Olympics. The South African ran a 46.62 in the 400m at the Golden Gala in Rome yesterday. It was more than a second off the 45.55 needed to clinch a spot in Beijing.
Pistorius will race in Lucerne, Switzerland on July 16 for one last chance at posting an Olympic time.
Race Walker Banned
Chinese Olympic race walker Song Hongjuan has received a four-year ban for failing a drug test in February. The Chinese athletics association informed the IAAF the 24-year-old tested positive for EPO.
Song’s suspension is mild compared to the lifetime ban delivered to swimmer Ouyang Kunpeng and wrestler Luo Meng.
Song placed 14th at the 2004 Games in Athens, but did not compete in the Olympic trials. Six other Chinese athletes have failed drug tests this year, but the CAA has not released names or infractions.
Only Female Afghan Olympian Disappears
Afghanistan will only send three athletes to Beijing as its lone female, Mehboba Ahdyar, has disappeared. IOC and IAAF officials suspect she is seeking asylum in Norway.
"The IOC accepts that athletes sometimes feel they have to make hard choices to improve their lives. It would appear this is what has happened in this case." IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau told AP.
The 19-year-old, who has received death threats from Muslim extremists, left Formia, Italy where she was training on July 4 with her passport and luggage.
In March seven Cuban soccer players defected after playing a World Cup qualifier in Florida.
Briefs…
The International Gymnastics Federation and Cirque du Soleil agreed to a four-year partnership to help international gymnasts find work after retiring from competition. The partnership focuses on exchange and image for both organizations.
U.S. swimmer Eric Shanteau will put off surgery for testicular cancer so he can swim in the Olympics. The 200m breaststoker was diagnosed a week before the U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha last week. Doctors assure him the cancer has not spread, and it's safe for him to postpone the operation until after the Games.
FIBA and the World Academy of Sport plan to launch a basketball academy to teach administrative skills to its member federations over the internet by January 2009. “FIBA is clearly focused on servicing and developing their membership and we are delighted to assist. We are already a trusted partner of many International Federations and FIBA is a welcome addition,” said Director of World Academy of Sport Chris Solly.
MOJO, a high-definition cable channel, and USA Today Live will run a ten-part series on Olympic hopefuls called “A Shot at Glory” starting July 28 at 9 p.m. Tyson Gay and Wallace Spearmon are two notable athletes profiled.
Indian Sports Minister MS Gill assured Commonwealth Games President Michael Fennel India would host a successful Commonwealth Games in 2010. "The government has set up a monitoring mechanism at the highest level to review the preparations periodically. Works, including upgrading of the stadiums, hiring of modern technologies and equipments are also under progress," Gill said.
The International Volleyball Federation’s future President Jizhong Wei turned over leadership of the FIVB World Grand Prix Council to Japan Volleyball Association President Masao Tachiki.
Media Watch…
Beijing restaurants are removing dog from menus to please visitors.
Ann Killion is skeptical of Dara Torres’s achievements.
Written by Eric Connelly.
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