ID :
12533
Tue, 07/15/2008 - 15:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/12533
The shortlink copeid
Jongewaard closer to riding in Beijing
(AAP) - Australian mountain bike champion Chris Jongewaard has won another battle in his bid to ride at the Beijing Olympics after Cycling Australia (CA) nominated him for the Games.
Jongewaard, 29, is facing pending criminal proceedings and was left off the Australian team named last week by CA and confirmed by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).
Jongewaard is facing hit and run and drink driving offences relating to an accident near Adelaide last year which left fellow cyclist Matthew Rex with severe head injuries.
His appearance at the Beijing Games now rests with the AOC.
Based on the AOC's handling of swimmer Nick D'Arcy, who was dumped after hitting retired swimmer Simon Cowley, it seems unlikely that Jongewaard will meet the ethical behaviour standards demanded of Olympic team members.
The AOC is expected to write to Jongewaard giving him an opportunity to state his case as to why he should be included on the Olympic team.
An AOC committee will then meet to consider his nomination by CA.
The mountain biker was originally named by selectors but then rejected by CA's High Performance Management Committee (HPMC) because of concerns he would not pass the AOC's ethical standards.
Jongewaard appealed and CA reversed its original decision and nominated Jongewaard to the AOC for selection in the team, replacing Daniel McConnell.
"In the circumstances the HPMC felt that there was sufficient doubt as to the authority of CA to exclude Chris Jongewaard on character grounds suggesting that a successful defence in any subsequent hearing could not be assured," CA said in a statement.
Any decision by the AOC is likely to be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by either Jongewaard or McConnell.
The AOC must finalise the team by July 23, and if a decision is not reached by then, both cyclists will be nominated for the Games and one will be removed after any CAS appeal is finalised.
Jongewaard, 29, is facing pending criminal proceedings and was left off the Australian team named last week by CA and confirmed by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).
Jongewaard is facing hit and run and drink driving offences relating to an accident near Adelaide last year which left fellow cyclist Matthew Rex with severe head injuries.
His appearance at the Beijing Games now rests with the AOC.
Based on the AOC's handling of swimmer Nick D'Arcy, who was dumped after hitting retired swimmer Simon Cowley, it seems unlikely that Jongewaard will meet the ethical behaviour standards demanded of Olympic team members.
The AOC is expected to write to Jongewaard giving him an opportunity to state his case as to why he should be included on the Olympic team.
An AOC committee will then meet to consider his nomination by CA.
The mountain biker was originally named by selectors but then rejected by CA's High Performance Management Committee (HPMC) because of concerns he would not pass the AOC's ethical standards.
Jongewaard appealed and CA reversed its original decision and nominated Jongewaard to the AOC for selection in the team, replacing Daniel McConnell.
"In the circumstances the HPMC felt that there was sufficient doubt as to the authority of CA to exclude Chris Jongewaard on character grounds suggesting that a successful defence in any subsequent hearing could not be assured," CA said in a statement.
Any decision by the AOC is likely to be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by either Jongewaard or McConnell.
The AOC must finalise the team by July 23, and if a decision is not reached by then, both cyclists will be nominated for the Games and one will be removed after any CAS appeal is finalised.
