NearPup

Because the FBI totally let Marion Jones off the hook and covered for Lance Armstrong... There is zero evidence of state sponsored dopping in the US.

Also incredibly unfair to the Kiwis that had their spots rejected.

Team Canada: Dressage: Megan Lane on Caravella Belinda Trussell on Anton Eventing Rebecca Howard on Riddle Master Colleen Loach on Qorry Blue d'Argouges Selena O'Hanlon on Foxwood High Jessica Phoenix on A Little Romance Show Jumping Yann Candele on Showgirl Tiffany Foster on Tripple X III Eric Lamaze on Fine Lady 5 Amy Millar on Heroes Sadly no Ian Millar, but it will be some consolation to him that his daughter Amy will make her Olympic debut. Very female heavy team (8 women, 2 men).

Aww come on man, there's that one Cuban guy, a couple guys from north Africa and IIRC there's at least one guy born in Qatar :O

It isn't a "real" wild card, the rules specify that a former grand slam or Olympic singles champion in the top 200 that isn't directly qualified through direct entry can get one of the last six spots (limit of two athletes per singles draw can qualify that way) as long as their country hasn't reached the athlete limit.

I guess it's not that shocking Lochte had a bad 400m IM, he just recently came back to that event after a long layoff. Kalisz will be a solid medal threat.

It's a bit ridiculous. You'd think the FIVB would want to promote it's event >.>

Big dopping related news that affects qualification. The IWF has updated the list of countries with quitas removed: Azerbaijan - 1 m / 1 w Belarus - 1 m Kazakhastan - 1 m / 1 w Moldova - 2 m North Korea - 1 m / 1 w Romanian- 1 m Russia - 1 m / 1 w Uzbekistan - 1 w Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia all face a one year suspention of all the re-tests from 2008 and 2012 are confirmed, so they might miss the Olympics entirely like Bulgaria.

In the span of about a week Khazakhastan went from 5 to 0 all time gold medals in weightlifting...

I guess Belarus is going to be the favourite for the last ticket, though I think either South Korea or Cuba will give them a run for their money. I think it's fair to say Argentina is the outsider of that group.

Shouldn't Schiavone be eligible for a wildcard since she's a formed Grand Slam tournament winner and in the top 200?

That sounds like horse **** to me. Incredible fall from grace for Kazakhastani weightlifting. Is losing four gold medals at once in a single sport unprecedented?

At least we're going to avoid a bunch of uncomfortable fluff pieces I guess... The Asenani situation is really unfortunate, but oh well. It's debatable if Belgium earned that spot, but Asemani won it for herself fair and square.

Almost certainly, I just don't think double places have been confirmed yet.

Tennis Canada told Radio Canada that Raonic, Pospisil and Bouchard will play singles in Rio, so no surprise there. No word from them on doubles yet.

Les qualifs pour le double mixte sont confirmer sur place. Donc on saura pas qui vas participer avant le début des compétitions.

So happy, did not expect qualify Canada to make it after the loss to Cuba in the North American qualifier. The team sure took the hard road though.

It would at least make more sense. Not sure I'd consider it fair, but if you want more American teams you should at least to make sure the best American teams qualify.

Ya, it makes no sense. I feel especially bad for the Dominican Republic who by all rights should have qualified avove Puerto Rico (and I'll be quite peeved if Mexico makes it but Canada doesn't). They should have just kept the rule where top 3 at the World Cup qualify.

Would be pretty cool to have four North American / six American teams in the Olympics Come on Poland!

Well set 3 was depressing. Either way, with Canada winning set 4 China is now eliminated. If Canada wins the fifth set Australia only qualifies with a win of any kind over Poland. If Canada loses the fifth set then Australia qualifies if they make it to the fifth set. (I think, stressed)

25-16 Canada in the first set against China. Very impressive first set from the Canadian team, they seem determined to put as much presure as possible on Australia.

Does Mexico have any leeway with their standards?

More or less correct. There is no real high level men's softball or women's baseball (though they do hold world championships for both), but softball is still very popular as a men's participation sport and at a youth level quite a few girls play baseball.

It would help if the ICC got it's governence in order. Frankly I oppose cricket joining the Olympics on philosophical grounds as long as they keep segregating test nations from the peasant associate nations. They would also need to, well, apply to join the Olympics. They seem reluctant so far.