.JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius was not chosen Friday to be on South Africa's Olympic team for the Beijing Games. Besides failing to meet the qualifying standard to run in the 400 meters, Pistorius was left off the 1,600-meter relay team. Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene said four other South Africans had faster times, and two others were chosen as alternates. Pistorius has battled with authorities for months, ultimately winning an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in May that allowed him to compete against able-bodied athletes and more recently facing concerns that he could pose a danger to other athletes.
Besides failing to meet the qualifying standard to run in the 400 meters, Pistorius was left off the 1,600-meter relay team. Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene said four other South Africans had faster times, and two others were chosen as alternates.
Pistorius has battled with authorities for months, ultimately winning an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in May that allowed him to compete against able-bodied athletes and more recently facing concerns that he could pose a danger to other athletes.
-- Edited by alligcold at 19:13, 2008-07-19