Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius was cut from South Africa’s 4×400 meter relay team before Friday’s final, despite having helped set a national record in qualifying heats on Thursday. Pistorius was replaced by LJ van Zyl, the only South African runner to have run faster than Pistorius this year in the 400. The South African federation cut Pistorius after the IAAF ruled earlier this week that Pistorius , citing concerns that he might collide with other runners in a later position, where contact between teams is not uncommon. Van Zyl did not run in earlier heats because he was competing in the 400-meter-hurdles. With the substitution, the South African team finshed second behind the United States, but ran slower than than with Pistorius. The U.S. team ran 2:59.31, a half-second up on South Africa in 2:59.87. Jamaica took bronze in 3:00.10. Because Pistorius , he will still receive a silver medal.
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