ATHLETICS IRELAND MOVED to draw a line under the controversial selection process for the women’s 4x400m relay team, saying that it respects the decision to reinstate Catriona Cuddihy at the expense of Joanna Mills.
The drawn-out saga came to a close this morning as the Olympic Council of Ireland confirmed that an Appeals Tribunal had reversed the decision which saw Cuddihy sidelined to make room for Mills in the six-woman squad.
Although Mills can still appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, Athetlics Ireland CEO John Foley said that he considered the OCI decision to be final.
Describing the affair as a significant learning experience, Athletics Ireland promised to conduct a post-Olympic review of the selection and appeals processes and their impact on all involved.
But with just three days to go until the Games’ official opening, Foley said that it was in the best interests of all to put the matter to bed for now.
“We also have to acknowledge that the past three weeks has been enormously difficult for the athletes involved in this appeal process, their families, supporters and friends.
“At this point however there is a final decision as to selection and we believe that it is now in the interests of all, that we focus our attention on the Games themselves. We wish all of the athletes the best of luck in their efforts in London.”
Cuddihy now joins her sister Joanne, Michelle Carey, Claire Bergin, Marian Heffernan and Jessie Barr in the Irish squad for London.
A significant learning experience?
More like a significant screw up.
If Mills was faster she should go, times should be all that matter, in countries where Olympic trials take place who you are and previous achievements are irrelevant if you can’t win the trials. Since Ireland doesn’t have trials a selection on times in the previous year would be the fairest way to do it. But of course this sketchy system of subjective criteria.
To be fair there are a few other issues in other countries as well, the UK taekwondo champ isn’t competing either due to selection issues. A run off would have been cracking between the women.
Them girls have no chance of wining a medal, and if you disagree with me Paddy Power will give you big odds. There is plenty of girls better than them but they never went to UCD or Trinity so its who you know in this corrupt country.
Yasser speaks the truth..
Nobody’s a winner here. Complete mess. I feel for both athletes.
They never learn, do you remember Sonya had trouble with wearing her kit ?