South Sudanese Runner to Compete Without a Team - New York Times

Guor Marial, a South Sudanese refugee who lives and trains in the United States, will be able to compete in the marathon at the London Games as an independent Olympic athlete, officials said Saturday.

Marial hit the Olympic A standard last October, but South Sudan has yet to form a national organizing committee.

He could not run for the United States team because he is not a citizen, and he refused to compete under the Sudanese flag, as its security forces killed 28 members of his family.

Marial’s case was discussed Saturday during a meeting of the International Olympic Committee’s executive board. The board approved Marial’s request to run as an independent, ending months of negotiations between the committee and Marial’s representatives.

The men’s marathon is scheduled for Aug. 12.

AMERICAN LOSES 2004 MEDAL The I.O.C. has stripped the American Crystal Cox of her gold medal from the 4x400-meter relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics for doping.

Cox admitted in 2010 to using anabolic steroids and accepted a four-year suspension and disqualification of her results from 2001 to 2004.

The I.O.C. executive board formally disqualified Cox and took away her gold medal. But it will allow the I.A.A.F., track’s world governing body, to decide whether to disqualify the United States team, annul its victory and strip the medal.

Cox ran in the preliminaries for the American team. Sanya Richards ran the final along with Dee Dee Trotter, Monique Henderson and Monique Hennegan.

Under international rules, an entire relay team can be disqualified because of the doping of one member, even an alternate.

If the United States is stripped of the victory, Russia will move from silver to gold and Jamaica from bronze to silver. (AP)

U.S. WOMEN WIN Sylvia Fowles scored 15 points and Candace Parker added 14 to lead a balanced offense in the United States women’s basketball team’s 109-55 win over Croatia in an exhibition game in Istanbul.

Sue Bird, who left the American squad last week after the death of her stepfather, returned after missing exhibition wins over Brazil and Britain.

Bird entered the game four minutes in. Her first play was a nifty no-look pass to Tamika Catchings, but she could not convert the shot. Bird then hit a 3-pointer a few minutes later as the United States went on a 24-3 run to take a 38-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. She finished with 8 points and 5 assists in 19 minutes.

The offense clicked behind Bird, a two-time Olympic point guard.

The Americans overwhelmed Croatia, shooting 57 percent from the field while building a 62-23 halftime advantage. All 12 of the American players had scored by the half.

The United States extended the lead to 57 points in the second half and crossed the 100-point mark midway through the fourth quarter on Seimone Augustus’s jumper from the wing. The Americans finished the game shooting 52 percent from the floor.

These teams will play each other in the Olympic opener next Saturday.

Before that game, the United States will play Turkey on Sunday in its final exhibition game. The Americans will then train for two more days in Istanbul before heading to London.

Playing in Turkey served as a bit of a homecoming for six United States players who compete in the country during the winter. Augustus, Tina Charles, Fowles and Catchings have played for Galatasaray, and Angel McCoughtry suited up for rival Fenerbahce.

Diana Taurasi has played for the two Turkish teams.

Ana Lelas scored 14 points and Sandra Mandir added 13 to lead Croatia, which qualified for the Olympics by winning its quarterfinal game at the last Olympic qualifying tournament. The four quarterfinal winners at that tournament automatically qualified for London.

Canada earned the final bid by winning the consolation bracket. (AP)