By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE BTC Bahamas Olympic team has been increased by four members with the women's 4x400 metres relay team being added on Thursday to the original list of 28 athletes announced on Wednesday by the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC).

The team has been invited to the Games in Rio de Janeiro next month because of the disqualification of Russian track and field athletes over doping violations. The top 16 relay squads will compete in Brazil and the Bahamas were ranked 17th so had originally missed out.

"It was only this morning that the Bahamas Olympic Committee, in concert with the Bahamas Association of Amateur Athletic Associations, received communication from the IAAF inviting The Bahamas to enter the 4x400 women’s relay team to participate in the BTC Bahamas national team traveling to Rio de Janeiro," a BOC statement said.

"The Bahamas Olympic Committee accepted the invitation and the following individuals have been named to the team: Christine Amertil, Lanece Clarke, Carmeisha Cox, Shaquania Dorsett, Shaunae Miller and Anthonique Strachan. The Bahamas Olympic Committee congratulated the six young ladies on their qualification and wished them the very best during the Rio Olympic Games."

Miller and Strachan were both originally named to the team as automatic qualifiers in individual events.

The Olympic Games are scheduled for August 5 to 21.