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Vancouver Winter Games torch run is diverted from route hours after celebrating relay kickoff

Vancouver Winter Games torch relay is diverted

3 half-marathoners who died at Detroit race described as healthy, experienced runners

DETROIT — Three men who collapsed and died while competing in a half-marathon were healthy and experienced runners, but to varying degrees, friends and family of the men said Monday.

Race officials say 3 runners died while competing in Detroit marathon, half-marathon

DETROIT — A half-marathoner and two other runners died during the Detroit marathon on Sunday, organizers said.

Renewed calls for South African track officials to quit over handling of gender dispute

JOHANNESBURG — Three South African track associations want the country’s top officials in the sport to resign over the gender dispute involving world 800-meters champion Caster Semenya.

Official discuss only support for SAfrica athletics chief who admitted lying about gender case

JOHANNESBURG — Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene received a vote of confidence from the national track authority’s members, even as politicians, union leaders, newspaper editorials and other sports bodies have called for him to be fired.

Obama drums up support for Chicago Olympic bid, says city would ‘make the world proud’

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama staged a homecoming-style Olympic rally at the White House Wednesday, saying the whole country is rooting for his hometown of Chicago in its efforts to host the 2016 Summer Games.

Relatives of South African 800-meter winner at worlds dismiss gender test uproar

FAIRLIE, South Africa — In the poor, rural village where South African runner Caster Semenya grew up, relatives on Thursday brushed off questions about her deep voice and muscular build that have prompted the world governing body for track and field to seek gender tests.

Owens’ humanitarian legacy may be fading in Germany, but should receive new boost this weekend

BERLIN — The tide of World War II was turning against Nazi Germany in 1943, and Luz Long had the sense that death was closing in on him on at the Sicilian front.

US troops who have died while serving in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa

US troops killed in Afghanistan and Africa

University of Kentucky seeks to dismiss, move former basketball coach Billy Gillispie’s suit

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Kentucky Athletics Association says former Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie has sued the wrong people and in the wrong place.

Court disallows national class-action status in billing suit against Sprint Nextel

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — A federal judge in Washington state has disallowed national class-action status to a lawsuit against Sprint Nextel Corp. over billing issues.

Senior Saudi prince voices strongest official endorsement of women’s sports

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Appealing to a powerful Saudi prince, an 8-year-old girl asked why she was not allowed to play sports in school like boys. She got an unexpected response: The prince said he hoped government schools for girls would allow playing fields.

Tough pill to swallow: Leader says study flawed, sports looking for scapegoats

DENVER — A leader in the supplement industry chafes when he hears sports leaders blame his multibillion-dollar industry for their steroid problems, citing studies that claim large percentages of their products are tainted.

Republicans, angered by treatment, force marathon voting session in House

WASHINGTON — The House may have set a record getting people on the record.

Republicans, angered by treatment, force marathon voting session

WASHINGTON — The House may have set a record getting people on the record Thursday.

Embarq, Sprint file suit against government over $31.6 million in income taxes

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Embarq Corp. and its former corporate parent, Sprint Nextel Corp., have sued the federal government to recover $31.6 million in income taxes.

Editorial Roundup: Excerpts From Recent Editorials in Newspapers in the US and Abroad.