NEW YORK, April 29 — World record holder Jessica Hardy has been cleared to compete at the 2012 London Olympics if she qualifies for the United States team, her attorney said in a statement yesterday.

Hardy, whose participation was in doubt because of a disputed doping sanction, was given special approval to compete by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) given the unusual circumstances of her case, her attorney, Howard Jacobs, said in a statement.

"This clears the way for Jessica Hardy to compete at the 2012 US Olympic Trials, and assuming that she qualifies, to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London," Jacobs said.

The announcement from the lawyer came one day after the IOC and the US Olympic Committee asked sport's highest court to make a definitive ruling on an eligibility rule that could keep some athletes out of the London Olympic Games.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport was asked to determine the validity of IOC Rule 45, which bars any athlete receiving a doping sanction of greater than six months from competing at the next Olympic Games.

Hardy, 24, may have been affected by any subsequent ruling after serving a one-year suspension after testing positive for the banned steroid clenbuterol at the 2008 US Olympic trials.

The offence normally carries a two-year ban but she was given a reduced penalty after she explained that she took nutritional supplements after having obtained assurances from the manufacturer that it was safe, only to discover later that the supplements were contaminated.

She withdrew from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and returned to swimming last year after her ban, reclaiming her world record in the 100 metres. But the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lodged an appeal and demanded that she been given a two-year penalty, which may have kept her out of the London Olympics.

CAS rejected WADA's appeal and said the ban was appropriate but Wednesday's request for clarification on eligibility may have threatened her participation.

"I am ecstatic that the IOC has recognised my unique situation and that this rule does not apply to me," she said.

"With this final hurdle now behind me, I can now focus 100 per cent of my efforts on preparing for and representing my country at next year's Olympic Games, a lifelong dream that was taken away from me in 2008." — Reuters 

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LISBON, April 29 — A thunderous free kick by Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo gave Benfica a 2-1 first-leg home win over Braga in their all-Portuguese Europa League semi-final on Thursday.

Benfica had a goal disallowed and hit the post in the first half, while Braga also came close with a dangerous long-range shot from left back Silvio.

The hosts went ahead five minutes after the break when a Cardozo header hit the post and centre back Jardel pounced to slide in from the rebound.

Braga levelled three minutes later when Hugo Viana sent in a curling free kick from the left and an unmarked Vandinho headed in almost with his back to the goal.

Cardozo earned Benfica the win on 59 minutes with a powerful free kick into the top-left corner that keeper Artur had no chance of saving. — Reuters  pic

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