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New Zealand forgot to register defending Olympic shot put champ

She's the defending Olympic champion in the shot put. She has finished atop the podium at each of the last three World Championships. And she owns the second-longest throw in the world this year.

Yes, everything is in place for New Zealand's Valerie Adams to challenge for another Olympic gold medal in the shot put on Monday with one slight exception: Her country neglected to register her to compete in the event.

Adams' name was missing from the start list released Sunday for the women's shot put competition because of the New Zealand Olympic Committee's oversight. That initially sparked fears she might not be allowed to compete, but the NZOC realized its mistake and successfully argued for her inclusion.

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"Valerie Adams has been added to the start list of the Olympic shot put competition tomorrow after an administrative error saw her name missed from the initial line up," the NZOC said in a statement. "The matter was dealt with swiftly and has been fully resolved. The IAAF have confirmed her name is on the list."

A gaffe of this nature is especially egregious because of Adams' stature. This is a woman who hasn't lost on the world track and field circuit in over two years and who has a chance to become only the eighth athlete from New Zealand to win back-to-back Olympic golds.

Thankfully, the IAAF didn't penalize Adams for not being registered to compete.

Adams has worked four years to be in position to defend her Olympic title. An administrative error that wasn't her fault shouldn't deprive her of that chance.Related Olympics coverage on Yahoo! Sports:

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