Athletics: South African amputee Oscar Pistorius failed in his attempt to secure a place at the Beijing Olympics tonight.
Pistorious, running his first race since being given clearance to compete against able-bodied athletes, finished well outside the 400 metres qualifying standard at a meeting in Milan.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in May Pistorius' prosthetic limbs did not give him an unfair advantage.
Clocking 45.55 seconds would have ensured the 21-year-old a place in the individual race in Beijing but he could manage only 47.78sec as he finished fourth in the 400m B race at the Notturna di Milano event.
The race, on a hot and humid night in the old Napoleonic Stadium Arena, was won by Italian Fiorenzo Moscatelli in 47.26.
"I ran too hard in the first 200 metres and I had no strength in the final straight," said Pistorius.
"I have to be realistic about times. I am grateful to have this opportunity from the organisers."
Pistorius is scheduled to run again in Rome on July 11th and in Lucerne five days later.
"It was nice just to be back on the track," Pistorius added. "Hopefully I will run a better time in Rome."