Australian pentathlete cleared to compete

Australian pentathlete cleared to compete

Australian modern pentathlete Angie Darby is on her way to Beijing after the Court of Arbitration for Sport threw out an appeal that questioned her Olympic eligibility.


Greece's pentathlon federation challenged Darby's qualification and wanted her replaced by Greek competitor Donna Vakalis.

The Greek federation claimed Darby was not eligible to compete because she failed to meet the full requirements of the five-event discipline when she qualified for Beijing by winning the Oceania championship in Tokyo last year.

The fourth of the five disciplines – show jumping – wasn't contested because of an outbreak of equine influenza.

The same argument was successfully used in July by the British federation to have Australia's Alex Parygin, the 1996 Olympic champion, replaced by Nick Woodbridge, who was next in the world rankings. The British lawyer who won that case represented the Greek federation.

Vakalis originally appealed to the pentathlon's world governing body, which allowed the Oceania contest to go ahead. It ruled the Greek athlete's claim was made too late.

The women's modern pentathlon event is scheduled for Aug 22 at the Olympic Sports Center stadium in Beijing. The one-day event sees athletes accumulate points in pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, show jumping and a final 3,000-metre run.

The Australian Olympic Committee said Thursday that Darby will join the rest of the Australian team in the Olympic village and march in Friday's opening ceremonies.

Australian Olympic Committee director of sport Fiona de Jong had launched a personal crusade to keep Darby on the team, at one point telling British lawyers who instigated the challenge they "had picked a fight with the wrong chick".

"I am so pleased for Angie," De Jong said in a statement. "It is a feeling of relief and joy that the saga is finally over and Angie can get on and compete. It was wrong for her to be excluded and the CAS agreed with that view."

AOC president John Coates also was pleased with the result.

"Every athlete and federation has the right to appeal the selection process and I am glad that it has been resolved," Coates said. "I'm advised that her training has been excellent throughout the latter stages of this process so hopefully her preparation has not been adversely affected."