Olympics-Two athletes appeal to CAS over campaigning row - Reuters

BERNE, Sept 4 | Tue Sep 4, 2012 3:55pm EDT

BERNE, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Two athletes barred from joining an International Olympic Committee (IOC) commission because of their election campaigning methods have taken their appeals to sport's highest court.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered an appeal from Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, bronze medallist at this year's London Olympics, requesting the IOC decision barring him from the athletes' commission be annulled.

CAS said the Japanese Olympic Committee had also appealed.

"The appellants request the annulment of the IOC Executive Board's decision and an order that Murofushi be reinstated as a candidate in the election," the Lausanne-based court said in a statement.

They also requested "an order that the votes registered for Murofushi up to the close of voting on Aug 8 be considered valid, resulting in his election to the IOC Athletes' Commission."

CAS said it had received an email from the Taiwan Olympic Committee announcing that the gold medallist in taekwondo at the 2004 Athens Games, Mu-Yen Chu, who had been excluded for the same reason, was also going to appeal.

Murofushi and Chu were excluded on charges they had campaigned inappropriately, in the wrong places and using methods that were against the rules.

The appeal process would take about four months, CAS said.

French canoeing gold medalist Tony Estanguet, Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry, Australia's former Olympic rowing champion James Tomkins and Slovakian shooter Danka Bartekova were elected following the ruling.

The IOC decided not to proceed with their inclusion to the commission during the London Games because of a possible appeal. (Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; editing by Matt Barker)

Olympics-Two athletes appeal to CAS over campaigning row - Reuters

BERNE, Sept 4 | Tue Sep 4, 2012 3:55pm EDT

BERNE, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Two athletes barred from joining an International Olympic Committee (IOC) commission because of their election campaigning methods have taken their appeals to sport's highest court.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered an appeal from Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi, bronze medallist at this year's London Olympics, requesting the IOC decision barring him from the athletes' commission be annulled.

CAS said the Japanese Olympic Committee had also appealed.

"The appellants request the annulment of the IOC Executive Board's decision and an order that Murofushi be reinstated as a candidate in the election," the Lausanne-based court said in a statement.

They also requested "an order that the votes registered for Murofushi up to the close of voting on Aug 8 be considered valid, resulting in his election to the IOC Athletes' Commission."

CAS said it had received an email from the Taiwan Olympic Committee announcing that the gold medallist in taekwondo at the 2004 Athens Games, Mu-Yen Chu, who had been excluded for the same reason, was also going to appeal.

Murofushi and Chu were excluded on charges they had campaigned inappropriately, in the wrong places and using methods that were against the rules.

The appeal process would take about four months, CAS said.

French canoeing gold medalist Tony Estanguet, Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry, Australia's former Olympic rowing champion James Tomkins and Slovakian shooter Danka Bartekova were elected following the ruling.

The IOC decided not to proceed with their inclusion to the commission during the London Games because of a possible appeal. (Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; editing by Matt Barker)

Tonia Couch loses London 2012 diving appeal

Tonia Couch has lost her appeal against the decision not to pick her for the 10m individual diving at London 2012.

The 23-year-old will still dive in the 10m synchro pairs with Sarah Barrow, but Monique Gladding will join Stacie Powell in the individual event.

Couch finished second in the Olympic trials while Gladding was third, but Team GB selectors want Couch to concentrate on the pairs with Barrow.

Coach Andy Banks said it was unlikely there would be a further appeal.

“We fully understand why Tonia challenged the selection policy however the appeal clearly demonstrates that British Swimming followed a fair and transparent process throughout”

British Swimming chief executive David Sparkes Plymouth-based Couch and her legal team brought the appeal as they felt that she was the best placed British diver to join Powell in the squad.

Selection rules stated that GB diving performance director Alexei Evangulov could use his discretion to pick a second diver behind the winner of the British trials.

"The committee said that he [Evangulov] had the discretion to do what he's done," Banks told BBC Sport.

Banks had considered taking the appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in Switzerland, if it failed, but he said that is now unlikely.

"We fought it, we disagree with it, but it's gone and for the good of Tonia and the team it's best to accept it and move on to the Olympics.

"We're unlikely to take the appeal further."

British Swimming chief executive David Sparkes said: "We fully understand why Tonia challenged the selection policy, however the appeal clearly demonstrates that British Swimming followed a fair and transparent process throughout.

"While we're sure Tonia will initially be disappointed we will be giving her all the support she needs along with the rest of the diving team to ensure they deliver the best possible results in London.

“Sad to hear about @toniacouch appeal not going through but she will do awesome in synchro with @SarahBarrow anyway! ?#teamtonia? :)”

"We wish Tonia and the whole team the very best of luck as they prepare for a home Olympic Games."

Couch reached the final of the 10m individual and synchro pairs at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where she finished eighth in both events.

Earlier this year she won European Championship gold in the pairs with Barrow, the first female British gold medal at a European Diving Championships for 74 years.

Individually Couch finished ninth at last year's World Championships and eighth in 2009, as well as finishing eighth at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.