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Pistorius Disqualified in 400-Meter Race

Posted on: Sunday, 15 July 2007, 18:05 CDT

By ROB HARRIS

SHEFFIELD, England - Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius' much-anticipated debut against elite able-bodied competition fizzled Sunday when he placed seventh in the 400 meters in heavy rain and then was disqualified.

Pistorius, who runs with carbon fiber blades for his lower legs, finished in 47.65 seconds, well behind Angelo Taylor's winning time of 45.25 at the British Grand Prix meet. Pistorius was called for running out of his lane.

The drama was further dulled when the race's biggest name, Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner, stumbled and stopped running a few yards in.

Pistorius, who is trying to convince the world governing body to let him compete at next year's Beijing Olympics, finished last of the remaining seven entrants.

After the race, Pistorius attacked the IAAF for making "derogatory" comments about the Paralympics.

One official was reported to have opposed Pistorius' involvement in able-bodied races on the grounds that it could pave the way for athletes to compete wearing jet-packs on their backs.

"It would be a lot more productive to do the testing with me rather than against me," he said. "For a federation that size making allegations and derogatory comments about Paralympics, then the least they can do is give me the opportunity to fight my fight and work with me instead of against me. It's pretty unprofessional the comments that they have made."

The rain also slowed Tyson Gay in winning the 100 meters. He failed to break 10 seconds, running a 10.13 in one of his slowest victories of the year.

Pistorius, who ran in the outside lane, went faster in the second half of the race than the first 200 meters at the Don Valley Stadium.

To qualify for next year's Beijing Olympics, the South African would have to run a 46.3 before July 2008 - and get IAAF approval. Although the loss was expected, the disqualification doesn't help his chances to convince a skeptical IAAF that he should run at the Olympics.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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