Olympics | Former Husky Hope Solo named starting goalkeeper for U.S. women

Briana Scurry has played more games, earned more victories, recorded more shutouts and won more medals than any U.S. soccer goalkeeper in history — men or women — but Monday she was not included on the 18-player roster that will travel to China in August to compete in the Beijing Olympics.

It was a decision made for tactical reasons, not to avoid controversy, according to U.S. women's national soccer Coach Pia Sundhage.

Scurry, 36, has been one of the American team's stalwarts for the past 14 years, winning Olympic gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games and the 2004 Athens Games, as well as a world championship in 1999 with her memorable penalty kick save against China in the dramatic final at the Rose Bowl.

But on Monday, when Sundhage named her team, Scurry was listed as only an alternate, with Hope Solo, 25, and Nicole Barnhart, 26, selected as the starter and backup, respectively.

Was it because of the spat between Solo and Scurry at the 2007 Women's World Cup in China?

"No, not at all," Sundhage said Monday by conference call from her native Sweden.

"The reason why I have picked these two goalkeepers is [because] of the way we play. We want to keep the ball. We want to keep possession and switch the point of attack.

"I want them to do that in the back four, and even use the goalkeeper. Both Hope and Nicole, they are very good with their feet, and that is necessary the way we're playing right now, so that is why they are in the 18."

During last year's Women's World Cup, Solo reacted furiously when she was benched by then-coach Greg Ryan for the semifinal against Brazil. This happened even though she had not given up a goal in two consecutive games. Scurry was given the start and, after the U.S. was beaten, 4-1, Solo lashed out at Ryan and, indirectly, at Scurry.

The incident contributed to Ryan being fired after the tournament and Sundhage taking his place, but Solo's relationship with the rest of the team later was patched up and the players put the issue behind them.

Asked whether Scurry had played her final game for the U.S., Sundhage said she did not know.

"If her international career is over or not, you shouldn't ask me," she said. "Because I would say if she continues and plays in the [new women's] league next year, she has a chance to come back, of course.

"Her reaction? She reacted very professional. Now she is the third goalkeeper, and she will be fit and ready to go if something happens to the other two goalkeepers."

IOC says Gatlin must appeal to Swiss court

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Banned sprinter Justin Gatlin must go to Switzerland if he wants to compete in Beijing.

The International Olympic Committee said Gatlin, whose four-year doping ban recently was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, is not eligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics regardless of any ruling by a federal court judge in Pensacola.

"Should he wish to appeal this CAS decision, he must do so before the Swiss Federal Court," wrote IOC director of legal affairs Howard Stupp.

Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Lacey A. Collier issued a temporary restraining order that would allow the defending Olympic 100-meter champion to compete in the 100-meter rounds at the U.S. Olympic trials, which begin Friday in Eugene, Ore.

If allowed to run at the trials, Gatlin would have to finish in the top three to make the U.S. Olympic team.