| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
SYDNEY: Australia's reigning Commonwealth 400-metre champion John Steffensen will boycott next month's New Delhi games because of a dispute with Athletics Australia, reports said on Thursday.
Steffensen, 28, who won the 400m and 400m relay at the 2006 Melbourne Games, said he he wants to expose the "bullying, egotism and outdated approach" of the national governing body.
"This is the toughest decision I've ever had to make but I want people to realise this is more than another headline, more than someone creating controversy," Steffensen told The Daily Telegraph.
Steffensen said he is at odds with AA over what he claims is four years of unanswered complaints.
The outspoken runner told the newspaper that after completing a victory lap at the Melbourne Games, he returned to the athletes' village and found his door had been kicked in and room trashed.
He said AA officials assured him the matter would be dealt with, but he claims four years on nothing has happened.
Steffensen also holds a grievance after his request to seek an exemption from the national championships earlier this year following major back surgery was denied.
"Athletes are getting bullied, dictated to, copping decisions that are essentially jeopardising careers," he told the newspaper.
"I explained the surgeons' findings and they (AA) effectively said 'too bad, run'."
After running in the national final and finishing second, Steffensen told journalists that he should never have been made to compete.
Steffensen said he realised he was sacrificing two years of training by pulling out of the Delhi games team.
"This decision (is) going to cost me money, my reputation will take a hit and my chance of ever winning consecutive Commonwealth golds is gone," he said.
"See, I love Australia. Love running for my country. But by sacrificing two years of my own preparations for these Games, I hope people understand how passionate I am about creating change for athletics in this country."
AA chief executive Dallas O'Brien said he had not received any formal notification of Steffensen's reported withdrawal.
"(We) would be disappointed if Steffensen, the defending 400m champion, were not available to represent Australia in the 400m and the 4x400m relay in New Delhi," O'Brien said in a statement.
O'Brien said his organisation had made numerous attempts to meet with Steffensen and repair their differences, but to no avail.
"We have made numerous attempts to arrange meetings with John to discuss his issues and his behaviour since April and have also offered to participate in an independent mediation process," he said.
"Despite this, John has refused all efforts to meet with Athletics Australia to discuss his situation." - AFP/fa
|
