ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Kenenisa Bekele wont compete at next months Olympics, perhaps the distance running greats last chance at the Games, after he was left off Ethiopias final team for failing to meet the countrys qualifying criteria in both the marathon and the 10,000 meters.The world-record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000, Bekele had appealed his exclusion in the marathon, but the Ethiopian Athletics Federation released its final list for the Rio de Janeiro Games over the weekend, confirming Bekeles absence.Bekele was first denied a place in the marathon when the federation said he hadnt run enough big races over the past year to meet the selection criteria, which have been criticized by Bekele.He then made a late attempt to get on the team in the 10,000. Bekele failed to finish the race at a trials event in Hengelo, Netherlands, last month.Almaz Ayana, Ethiopias rising star, was selected to run in the womens 5,000 and 10,000 in Rio. She will come up against compatriot and two-time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba in the 10,000. Dibaba was named as a reserve for the 5,000, an event in which she is a former Olympic champion, two-time world champion and the world-record holder.Ayana, 24, is the current world champion in the 5,000 and ran the second-fastest time in history over the distance last month in Rome, missing Dibabas record by a little over a second.Ethiopias other strong medal contender is Tiruneshs sister, Genzebe Dibaba, the world champion and world-record holder in the 1,500. Former world champion Mohammed Aman is Ethiopias lone hope in the mens 800.Bekele didnt even make it as a reserve for the marathon or the 10,000, meaning that at the age of 34, the four-time Olympic and five-time world champion could be unlikely to compete at a future Games.He had targeted the marathon as his next challenge, but an injury prevented him competing last year and limited his preparations. 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Puerto Rican lightweight Orlando Cruz said he is not only fighting for himself but also for the gay community.Cruz, who came out in 2012 as boxings first openly gay fighter, will challenge lightweight world titleholder Terry Flanagan on Saturday (beIN Sports Espanol, 11 p.m. ET, same-day tape) at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales.Terry Flanagan is a true world champion and will defend his title with everything he has. However, I am prepared and ready for victory and to be crowned the new world champion. I want to inspire the gay community by becoming a world champion on Saturday, Cruz said this week. Terry is a great champion and a real peoples person. More importantly, he respects my life and my choices.He sees the man boxing him and that is it. Everyone has been very supportive since I came out three years ago. I have the support of my family, friends and fans.Cruz, 35, who was a 2000 Olympian for Puerto Rico, lost his first shot at a world title, getting knocked out by then-featherweight titlist Orlando Salido in the seventh round in October 2013 in Las Vegas. Six months later, Cruz lost a 10-round decision to Gamalier Rodriguez.Since then, Cruz (25-4-1, 13 KOs), a southpaw, has won five fights in a row at junior lightweight. He will be moving up from the 130-pound division to the 135-pound lightweight division to face Flanagan.dddddddddddd.When I look at my story, it makes me hopeful that more people will be inspired to come out, Cruz said. Right now my focus is fully on the big fight on Saturday and winning the WBO lightweight belt. Ive been feeling the love from the British people since I arrived here on Monday. Everyone has been very welcoming to me and I have nothing but respect for them. I am very happy to be here in Cardiff and fighting for another world title.Flanagan (31-0, 12 KOs), a 27-year-old southpaw from England who will be making his fourth title defense, hopes to take care of Cruz and then move on to a bigger fight -- perhaps a unification against the winner of an expected rematch between champion Jorge Linares and Anthony Crolla, Flanagans Manchester, England rival.He said he respects Cruzs lifestyle, but that it makes no difference to him.Look, it was very brave of Orlando to come out, but Im not interested in either his sexuality or his personal life, Flanagan said. Im only interested in him as a boxer; an opponent. Hes a good fighter, but Im going to deal with him. ' ' '
