The appeal board was requested to review the decision and to determine if the selectors had indeed followed due process and procedures in completing the final selection.
Cycling South Africa welcomed the decision but the appeal board found that the selectors did indeed follow due process in terms of both the final selection criteria and the Cycling SA selection policy, and has determined that the team selected was therefore within their mandate.
Cycling SA confirm that after being faced with an appeal with respect to the exclusion of one of the women road cycling athletes, that the appeal board has made a final decision, which supports the original selection process used by Cycling SA and the decision made regarding the women’s road cycling team.
For London 2012, Cycling SA attained the international ranking of 13th, and as a result qualified three women cyclists, a significant improvement since Beijing 2008 where we qualified only one rider. This in itself is a remarkable achievement, and Cycling SA gives credit to each and every athlete who contributed.
Unlike other team sports (e.g. hockey and soccer), in cycling a nation’s overall ranking determines how many riders a country can send to the event. In soccer and hockey, as long as a country qualifies, they get to send a full team, with reserves. In cycling, and specifically road cycling, which is widely regarded as a team sport, the UCI qualification system restricts countries from sending complete teams, even though that country may achieve qualification. The only countries able to field a full team have to be ranked in the top 5 in the world.
According to Cycling SA, strict guidelines exist when considering and selecting athletes to represent their country in any cycling discipline and Cycling SA are confident that the decision made by its selectors and endorsed by its board presents the best opportunity to bring home a medal.
Bicycling spoke to the Olympic cycling team’s manager, Barry Austin on the team selection for London just after the announcement was made and it was made known that Cherise Taylor was excluded from the team. Read the interview here.
Big mistake….to make as if all people are stupid! You can bullshit some people sometimes, but not all the people all the time! Don’t believe it…are they scared to fix a mistake or do they know something that the rest of SA don’t know? I haven’t read one comment of a person on any platform that justify the selection…wonder why?
Not the first time I’ve heard her complaining