Banned John Steffensen will retain AA race cash
Mike Hurst From: The Daily Telegraph December 21
DESPITE banning John Steffensen until February 16 next year, Athletics Australia has retained the 400m sprinter on a list of athletes to be funded to compete on the domestic tour this summer.
The suspension means the 2006 Commonwealth Games 400m gold medallist would miss the opening stop on the circuit, in Brisbane on February 11.
AA set a time of 46.16sec as the funding standard for male 400m runners. Sean Wroe, Joel Milburn, Ben Offereins, Clay Watkins, Kevin Moore and Steffensen have all achieved that standard this year.
The first possible Australian Athletics Tour event available to Steffensen will be the Briggs Track Classic, on February 20, in Hobart.
Steffensen found himself in hot water after comments he made in Perth in April and then again when he announced his withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games team in September.
Athletics Australia brought charges against Steffensen, that he brought the sport into disrepute.
The Victorian Olympic Council did not organise the independent arbitration panel but provided their rooms to hear the matter. The panel was made up of Ian Hill QC (chairman), Jim Barry (administrator) and Jason Pennell (athlete).
Dallas O’Brien, the new AA CEO, said: “We accept the findings of the independent tribunal and look forward to seeing John run at the Australian Athletics Championships in April, and hopefully in green and gold at the world championships and London Olympics.”