Pistorius wins first gold in Beijing

BEIJING // One gold medal down in the Beijing Paralympics and two to go for the South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius. Despite a slow start on a wet track, Pistorius won the most difficult of his three races, clocking 11.17 today to take gold in the 100 metres. The American Jerome Singleton was just behind with 11.20, and his compatriot Brian Frasure claimed bronze with 11.50. Pistorius will be the strong favourite to win the 200m and 400m events as well.

The double amputee, known as the "Blade Runner" because of the prosthetic legs he races on, won a legal battle in May for the right to run in the Olympics. However, he subsequently failed to meet the qualifying time standard. "I had a tough start and a slow first 30 metres," Pistorius said after his victory. "I really just pulled out all the stops." Pistorius still has his sights set on qualifying for the Olympics.

"I'm looking forward to London 2012," he said. Pistorius' medal event was one of 20 on the track today in the third day of competition. Swimming offered 16 with seven in cycling and two dozen more in shooting, judo, equestrian, and powerlifting. The American Erin Popovich won her third gold medal in the pool, taking the 100m breaststroke for her disability class. She has also won gold in the 200 individual medley and the 100m freestyle.

Popovich won seven gold medals in Athens. She will go for only six this time as her other gold in 2004 came in a relay, which has been cut from the programme this time around. After three days China leads with 16 golds and 53 overall. Britain are in second with 14 golds and 32 overall. The USA are third with 10 golds and 26 overall. Away from the venues, the Paralympics had its first athlete banned for failing a doping test.

The Pakistani powerlifter Naveed Ahmed Butt tested positive for the steroid methandienone metabolites, the International Paralympic Committee said in a statement today. The urine sample was taken Sept 4, two days before the opening ceremony. Butt was handed a two-year ban and had his accreditation cancelled. *AP