Athletics

No Olympics for Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius' four-year quest to run in the 400 meters at the London Olympics came down to less than a quarter-second at the end.

That's how close the "Blade Runner" was to carving out his place in history.

The South African double-amputee missed out on qualifying in his individual event by an agonizing 0.22 sec on Friday in Port Novo, Benin, in his last chance ahead of next month's games.

Cycling

Armstrong gets doping charges

The US Anti-Doping Agency filed formal charges against Lance Armstrong, accusing the seven-time Tour de France winner of using performance-enhancing drugs throughout the best years of his career.

The agency notified Armstrong, former team manager Johan Bruyneel and several other Armstrong team associates of the charges in a letter.

The charges came after a USADA review panel examined evidence in the case, which now goes to an arbitration panel to decide. If found guilty, Armstrong could be stripped of the Tour de France titles he won from 1999-2005. This year's Tour de France begins on Saturday.

Basketball

Odom back in LA after big trade

Mo Williams will be reunited with the Utah Jazz as part of a four-team deal that will send Lamar Odom back to Los Angeles for a second chance with the Clippers.

The deal initially was believed to involve only three teams, but a fourth, the Houston Rockets, got involved after Thursday's draft. The Rockets received the rights to the Clippers' 53rd overall pick, Furkan Aldemir, and the Jazz sent the team's trade exception to Dallas. The Mavs also received cash considerations from Houston.

Bosh decides to skip London

Chris Bosh told USA Basketball he is withdrawing from consideration for the London Olympics so he can fully recover from the strained abdominal muscle that sidelined him for part of Miami's run to the NBA championship.

His decision came one day after Miami teammate Dwyane Wade pulled out of the US Olympic squad because of looming left knee surgery.

Baseball

Hill gets second cycle of season

Aaron Hill hit for his second cycle of the season on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the second major league player since 1900 to accomplish the feat twice in the same year.

Brooklyn's Babe Herman had two cycles in 1931, according to STATS LLC.

Golf

Mahan leads at scorching event

Hunter Mahan ran off seven birdies for a 6-under 65 at the AT&T National in temperatures that topped 38 C.

It was the best score of the week at Congressional, and gave him a two-shot lead over Robert Garrigus, Jimmy Walker and Brendon De Jonge.

Tiger Woods stayed in the game with a 68 in the morning.

Associated Press

(China Daily 07/01/2012 page23)