Olympics-Penthatlon-Darby cleared to compete in Beijing

By Julian Linden

BEIJING, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Australian modern pentathlete Angie Darby has been cleared to compete at the Beijing Olympics after an appeal against her selection was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Darby was selected to represent Australia but Greece lodged an appeal against her inclusion in the hope of getting one of their own athletes into the Games ahead of her.

The appeal was thrown out by a CAS hearing in Switzerland and Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates said on Thursday that Darby would arrive in Beijing in time to march at Friday's opening ceremony.

"Every athlete and federation has the right to appeal the selection process and I am glad that it has been resolved," Coates said.

"Obviously this has been a traumatic and gut-wrenching experience for Angie, but the good news is that she will join the team in the village and she will be welcomed with open arms." (Editing by Keith Weir)

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