CITY of Plymouth hurdler David King has revealed he was one of the British athletes to have an invitation to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games rejected by UK Athletics.
World Athletics have a two-pronged qualifying pathway for Olympics Games, with selection decided first by meeting a set standard and then by world ranking.
King did not have the tough Olympic standard, but he did qualify via his world ranking. However, UK Athletics’ policy is not to take people who do not have either the Olympic standard or their own B standard, which they base on a top eight finish.
“I was also one of the athletes with a rejected invitation to compete at the Paris Olympics,” King posted on social media last night. “I have not spoken up yet due to being exhausted from it all.”
King has now joined fellow Devon athlete Phil Norman in calling for UK Athletics to change their policy.
Norman was denied selection for Paris after missing out on UK’s own qualifying mark in the 3,000m steeplechase by just 0.15 of a second. His time of 8:18.65 achieved at the UK Athletics Championships in poor weather at Manchester and without pace-makers was the quickest time by a British athlete in more than 30 years.
Norman, who has previously been denied selection for World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games for different reasons, has now launched a petition to ‘overturn UKA’s decision to not send qualified athletes to the Olympic Games’.
Within less than 24 hours, more than 4,500 people has signed it.
King has backed it saying: “Myself and other qualified athletes deserve to compete at the Olympics.
“To be invited to compete at the Olympics and have someone else turn it down is almost unbelievable. UKA never fail to surprise. The opportunity to become an Olympian is not something that someone else should have the chance to deny.”
North Devon athlete Norman has tried everything to get UK Athletics to change their mind, without success, even though in endurance events like steeplechase there are limited races to try and run the qualifying time.
He posted on social media: “This one hurts the most. I battled every step of the way this year on and off the track and successfully qualified for my second Olympic Games.
“However, due to UKA policy I was not selected and my invite to the Olympic Games will be declined.
“I fought tooth and nail with help of legal counsel and the UKA athletes commission to appeal this decision but unfortunately my appeal was rejected due to 0.15s over 3,000m.
“This season I was British champion, ran the fastest time by a British athlete since 1992 and broke the championship record which had stood since 1990. I am now ranked sixth fastest of all-time on British rankings.
“In the eyes of UKA I am not good enough.
“Physically I am in the shape and form of my life. But mentally and emotionally I have nothing left to give.”
UKA have always maintained that World Athletics ranking qualification does not constitute an invitation to take part at the Olympic Games and that federations have their own selection policies.
However, the policy this year has come under fire after some of the non-selections, including Norman’s and not taking any women in the throwing events.
You can view Norman’s petition HERE.