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The Penn State child sex abuse scandal was selected as the …
This Aug. 23, 2009, file photo shows United States' LaShawn Merritt showing his gold medal during the medal ceremony for the men's 4x400-meter final at the end of the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. A lawyer for Olympic and world …
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Merritt out of Olympic race
Hamstring injury to blame
Updated: Sunday, 05 Aug 2012, 8:24 AM EDT
Published : Saturday, 04 Aug 2012, 10:24 AM EDT
LONDON (AP) -
Defending champion LaShawn Merritt of Portsmouth pulled up in the backstretch of his 400-meter preliminary heat, stopped in his quest for a second straight Olympic title by an ailing left hamstring.
Merritt got off to a bad start, fell behind early and stopped running after about 200 meters. He limped slowly off the track, an unsatisfying end to a tumultuous four years for the sprinter.
Merritt served a 21-month drug suspension between Olympics and needed a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to become eligible for these games.
He was the gold-medal favorite coming into London, but hurt himself in a tuneup race. His coach said this week that Merritt's status for the Olympics was shaky.
Merritt was expected to lead the Americans in the 4x400-meter relay, which starts Thursday.
Norfolk State's Chris Brown advanced to the semi-finals.
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