Vorstellung » Johnson, who is 0-2 with an 18.90 ERA in fi

President Vladimir Putin has hit out at the decision to ban Russian track and field athletes from the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio. Putin described the exclusion of the athletes as discrimination and part of a deliberate campaign.And Putin also said that medals won in Rio would be devalued due to the absence of Russian participation. Your colleagues from other sports powers realise that the value of their medals will be different, Putin told track and field stars such as Yelena Isinbayeva and Sergey Shubenkov.This victory will have a different taste - or no taste at all.And the Russian president added: The current situation does not only go beyond the legal sphere, it goes beyond common sense.We cannot accept indiscriminate disqualification of our athletes with absolutely clean doping histories. We cannot and will not accept what in fact is pure discrimination. Pole vaulting great Yelena Isinbayeva will have to sit out the Rio Olympics Putin was speaking after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had confirmed that the ban on the athletes would remain in place.The suspension was imposed in November due to systematic state-sponsored doping by Russia and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld that decision last week.Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko wrote to the IAAF on Monday in an attempt to get the ban overturned but was told there were no grounds for further review.Putin spoke to the Russian team on Wednesday, before they fly out on Thursday, and dozens of the track and field athletes who are not eligible to compete in the Rio Games also attended.Its obvious that the absence of Russian competitors, leaders in many disciplines, will lower the intensity of the fight and that means the spectacle at the upcoming events, said Putin.More than 100 Russian athletes - including all but one of the track and field team - will miss the Olympics but the country has avoided being totally excluded. Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a meeting with Russian athletes at the Kremlin The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sparked fierce criticism on Sunday when it resisted a blanket ban in favour of allowing individual sports federations to make the call on which Russians can go to Rio.And Russias Olympic team could number more than 200 after fencing, triathlon and volleyball became the latest sports to declare the countrys athletes eligible to take part in the Games on Wednesday. Also See: Russian judo team get all clear Pavey: IOC sending wrong message IOC opts against Russia ban Russian swimmers to miss Rio Stan Smith Cheap Online . Nat Borchers headed in the sole goal in the 54th minute, getting on the end of a Kyle Beckerman free kick. The defeat cost Sporting top spot in the Eastern Conference. Even a draw would have moved the Kansas City club above Columbus. Adidas Stan Smith Sale .500 were once common achievements for the Dallas Mavericks. Now, both are season highs as Dallas slowly works its way back into playoff contention in the Western Conference. http://www.cheapstansmith.net/ . - John Elways philosophy is to address immediate needs in free agency, even though some of his own veterans may prove too pricey to keep around. Cheap Adidas Stan Smith Shoes . -- So much for concern that running back Marshawn Lynch would be absent from the Seattle Seahawks minicamp. Adidas Stan Smith Outlet Online .com) - Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of 16th-ranked Sooners 48-14 loss to No. MINNEAPOLIS -- By the time Dan Straily took the mound for the second inning, he knew he just didnt have it. His velocity nowhere to be found, the 25-year-old right-hander took the next step in his maturation process by gritting his teeth, focusing on location and changing speeds over anything flashy and shutting down the Minnesota Twins. Straily pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and Sam Fuld hit a rare home run to help the Oakland Athletics complete a three-game sweep with a 6-1 victory Thursday. "Its part of learning from the past, from last year," said Straily (1-1), who gave up one run and struck out five. "On days when I didnt have my best stuff, I would try to pitch like I did and it would cost me. After the second inning, I realized I didnt have my A stuff in my arm today. So it was just a matter of mixing speeds and keeping everybody off balance. The Athletics rotation has opened the season with nine straight starts allowing three runs or less and has compiled a 1.93 ERA in 56 innings. "Theyve done a great job. So far, so good," Josh Donaldson said of the rotation. "Cant really complain about what theyve done. Thats what we expect from them." Fuld hit just his sixth homer in 738 career plate appearances and singled. Donaldson had a two-run homer and an RBI single for the Athletics (6-3). Mike Pelfrey (0-2) gave up six runs on nine hits and four walks in five innings. The Twins have had only one quality start in their first nine games. Brian Dozier hit his third home run of the season for Minnesota. Straily was selected in the 24th round of the 2009 draft, just another in the seemingly endless line of young, strong starting pitchers churned out by Billy Beanes Moneyball machine. Last year he led all AL rookies in starts, innings and strikeouts, and he brushed off the early homer to Dozier to slow down the Twins for the rest of the game. He allowed two baserunners -- both on walks -- over his final fiive innings "It wasnt his best velocity," manager Bob Melvin said.dddddddddddd. "He was throwing basically 87 mph today. But hes always got that slider in his pocket. He threw a few more changeups today and a few more curveballs, so he kept them off balance more than he typically pitches." Pelfrey had no such luck, labouring through another poor outing for Minnesotas starting rotation. Donaldsons homer in the third inning put him behind 3-1 and he walked No. 9 hitter Nick Punto in the fourth before Fuld yanked a pitch just over the wall in right field for a 5-1 lead. "I think all the way around, I was terrible today," Pelfrey said. The cushion allowed the As to avoid a save situation on the same day Melvin demoted struggling closer Jim Johnson, who is 0-2 with an 18.90 ERA in five appearances this season. The As will go with a closer-by-committee approach while they try to get Johnson straightened out, Melvin said. "Were all pulling for the same thing. Were all in it together," Straily said. "Its just a brotherhood mentality that we have in this clubhouse. Its something special." NOTES: The announced attendance of 20,650 was the smallest in Target Field history. ... Umpires reviewed a play in the sixth inning in which Jed Lowrie was thrown out at home by Twins CF Aaron Hicks. Umpires were looking to see if C Josmil Pinto was illegally blocking the plate. The call of an out was confirmed. ... Twins assistant GM Rob Antony said star prospect Byron Buxton likely will not start playing until May because of a wrist injury. ... The Twins open a series against Kansas City on Friday night. RHP Kyle Gibson (1-0, 1.80) will start the opener against Royals LHP Bruce Chen (0-0, 1.42). ... The Athletics head to Seattle for a series against the Mariners. LHP Tommy Milone will make his first start of the season on Friday night against Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez (2-0, 1.88). ' ' '