Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jarrod Bannister indoubt for London Olympics after investigation by the AOC
• by: Mike Hurst
• From:The Daily Telegraph
• December 28, 201112:00AM
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Under investigation: Jarrod Bannister celebrates his javelin gold medal. Source: AFP
COMMONWEALTH Games javelin gold medallist Jarrod Bannister is under investigation for alleged anomalies involving support funding which may cost him his chance to go for gold at the London Olympics.
A spokesman for the Australian Olympic Committee yesterday confirmed to The Daily Telegraph: “We are aware of an investigation conducted by the Victorian Institute of Sport into Jarrod Bannister’s alleged actions.”
Bannister, 27, is a member of the AOC’s elite shadow Olympic team after placing in the top eight at this year’s athletics world championships in Daegu, Korea.
When contacted yesterday and confronted with the news that the VIS had conducted a tribunal less than a fortnight ago at which he, and/or his appointed representative, was obliged to appear, Bannister said: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
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But he allegedly did not include any mention of his troubles - or of the VIS investigation - into his conduct when he submitted his Shadow Olympic Team membership document to his national sporting organisation, Athletics Australia, and the AOC. This may well workagainst him when the AOC considers his nomination under the new behaviour rule introduced after the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
AOC president John Coates was furious when, during the last Olympics, judo star Matt Celotti left the Australian team in Beijing after it was revealed he had been summonsed to face court over an alleged assault in Melbourne almost a year earlier.
Trying to protect the good name enjoyed by Olympians and therefore expecting them to uphold the highest code of ethics, Coates had already ruled swimmer Nick Darcy and cyclist Chris Jongewaard be banned from Australia’s team to Beijing. Jongewaard was subsequently jailed for nine months for running down his cyclist training partner while driving a support car when drunk.
Bannister is expected to be called before a committee comprising the London Olympic team chef de mission Nick Green, deputy chef de mission Chris Fydler and the AOC secretary-general Craig Phillips.
The fact Celotti went to the last Olympics without judo advising the AOC of his pending legal case infuriated the AOC and was the catalyst for the change which could cost Bannister his chance for glory and Australia another medal.
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