Australian 2-woman bobsled team gets OK from IOC

(AP) — Australia's two-woman bobsled team was approved by the IOC on Wednesday for the Vancouver Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee executive board authorized the addition of a 21st team for the competition, which starts Feb. 23. It described the move as an "exceptional measure" that "shall not be taken as a precedent" for future Olympics.

The decision followed a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which upheld Australia's appeal to be allowed to compete.

CAS ruled the international bobsled federation did not apply its qualification rules properly when it excluded the team of Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh. The Australians contended the pair deserved an Olympic berth as the top-ranked team in Oceania.

The Irish team had been the last to qualify based on performance and keeps it place in the competition.