Chambers can't run

By | Saturday, July 19, 2008

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From combined dispatches

LONDON | British sprinter Dwain Chambers failed Friday in his bid to overturn a lifetime Olympic ban because of doping and will not be able to compete at the Beijing Games.

London's High Court refused to grant an injunction against the British Olympic Association's bylaw, which bans doping violators for life from the games. Chambers' legal team said it would not appeal the decision.

"The judge has made his decision," Chambers said.

The sprinter did not comment on possible retirement plans. His attorney suggested in court Thursday that Chambers likely would retire if he lost the case.

Chambers, who won the 100-meter race at last Saturday's British Olympic trials in 10 seconds, served a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid THG in August 2003.

Despite ruling against Chambers, Judge Colin Mackay criticized the BOA bylaw.

"People both inside and outside sport would see this bylaw as unlawful," Mackay said.

The BOA has asked its Anti-Doping Commission to undertake a review of the bylaw in conjunction with the independent British Athletes Commission.

"Today has strengthened our resolve that it's the right approach, but we also want to make sure we are reflecting the athletes' wishes," BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said. "I don't believe today will change that bylaw, but we need to keep it under review."

Pistorius not chosen

JOHANNESBURG | In the end, it was a split second and not a court's decision that kept double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius from competing in the Beijing Olympics.

Pistorius was left off South Africa's 1,600-meter relay team, ending his hopes of participating in the Summer Games. He couldn't hit the 400-meter qualifying time of 45.55 seconds, despite running a personal best 46.25 on Wednesday on his prosthetic blades at a meet in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Other disabled athletes have occasionally participated in the Olympics - legally blind runner Marla Runyan competed for the U.S. in Sydney eight years ago, for instance. Yet Pistorius' tenacity and a bitter argument over whether his blades gave him an edge made his bid to run stand out.

Germany makes semis

ATHENS | Dirk Nowitzki overcame an early shooting slump to score a game-high 20 points and lead Germany past Brazil 78-65 and into the semifinals of the Olympic basketball qualifier.

Greece, Puerto Rico and Croatia also advanced to Saturday's semis. Germany will face Croatia and Greece will play Puerto Rico.

The semifinals winners will qualify for the 12-team Olympic tournament, while the losers will play on Sunday for the final berth.

While Nowitzki started out shooting 1-for-8, Germany kept itself in the game thanks to its outside shooting. Overall, it made 13 of 26 3-pointers to Brazil's 3-for-19.

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