MOSCOW -- Russia is confident that most of its Olympic team will be able to compete in Rio de Janeiro, but the countrys efforts to reinstate banned athletes are a mixed bag.Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko on Friday told local media that 272 of the countrys athletes had been approved by international sports federations, out of an original team of 387. Mutko added that the number could rise.More than 100 Russian athletes have been excluded by sports federations, including a blanket ban on the track and field team and more than 30 rejected under new International Olympic Committee rules.After the World Anti-Doping Agency accused the Russian government of directing a vast doping cover-up, the IOC said it would not allow Russians to compete in Rio if they had previously been banned for doping, were implicated in the alleged cover-up or had not been tested often enough internationally.Most federations have not excluded Russians on the basis of a lack of testing, but rowing is the exception, having barred 19 Russians, most for insufficient tests. Testing in Russia does not count under IOC rules because of the repeated allegations made against Russias drug testing agency and national lab, both of which have been suspended.An appeal is being prepared against World Rowings decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Russian Rowing Federation head Veniamin But told The Associated Press. That could send the 19 to Rio days before the Games start, if the case is heard and approved in time.Theyre now in Portugal, But said. Theyre training, and theyre ready to go.World Rowings approval process left just six rowers eligible to compete for Rio, meaning Russia could compete in only one event, the mens four. Reserve crews from around the world have rushed to Brazil to compete.There was good news for Russia on Friday, when the Russian Taekwondo Union said it had received notification from the World Taekwondo Federation that all three of its entries could compete in Rio.However, Russias best-known track and field athlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist Yelena Isinbayeva, said she had been refused in her final attempt to make the team for Rio following the blanket ban on Russia in that sport.Isinbayeva had applied again for an individual exemption but was refused by the IAAF, tracks world governing body.Unfortunately they didnt make an exception for me, she wrote on Instagram. They didnt admit me for the Olympics in Rio. The miracle didnt happen. Under Armour Shoes Australia . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Under Armour Wholesale Australia ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. http://www.wholesaleunderarmouraustralia.com/ . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Under Armour Shoes Australia Sale . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Under Armour Clearance Sale . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. It was enough to wipe the ever-present smile off Craig Lowndes face.But the Holden veteran still tried to look on the bright side of his devastating Bathurst 1000 campaign.Defending Great Race champion Lowndes suffered gear dramas early and a pit lane penalty midway and never recovered, finishing fourth last at Mount Panorama on Sunday.It was a crushing blow to six-time winner Lowndes Bathurst title defence.And his Supercars championship hopes.Not to mention it occurred at a Bathurst 1000 honouring the 10th anniversary of his great mentor Peter Brocks death.Yet Lowndes put on a brave face.We had great car speed towards the end of the race, Lowndes said.But it was frustrating we couldnt make our way forward.We cop it on the chin.But for us to have the pace that we did, I think it was fantastic to be able to bounce back after a really difficult and disappointing lead into this race - we take a lot out of it.Perhaps the only positive is that Lowndes remains third in the Supercars drivers championship, albeit 319 points behind leader Shane van Gisbergen who came second on Sunday.All eyes were on Lowndes at the Great Race due to the Brock anniversary.ddddddddddddLowndes received the inaugural winners Peter Brock Trophy in 2006, one month after the motorsport legends shock death.He hoped history repeated.But fate had other ideas.Lowndes started 21st on the grid after his worst-ever Bathurst qualifying effort.He contested his first Bathurst in 1994.However, Lowndes worked his way up the field to 11th before handing over the reins to co-driver Steven Richards.Then disaster struck.Richards complained that the Holden was stuck in sixth gear on lap 34, prompting a frenzied pit stop in which even Lowndes got stuck into the car to help.All to no avail.The failure with the gear lever link was something no one could have predicted, Lowndes said.I think its the first time its happened in the category.It was great work from the team to get the car up and running again.To cap their horror day, Lowndes received a pit-lane penalty for breach of procedure at the safety car re-start on lap 96 after Andrew Jones crash prompted the first of six yellow flags. 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