CAS appeal threatens Diamond's Rio Games

Sixteen-year-old shooter Mitchell Isles has appealed to CAS after missing out on Rio Games selection to Michael Diamond and Adam Vella.

Olympic shooting medallists Michael Diamond and Adam Vella could be in danger of missing the Rio Games, with 16-year-old Mitchell Iles challenging the selection.

Diamond and Vella were due to be announced by the Australian Olympic Committee on Friday as Australia's two representatives in the men's trap event.

But rising star Mitchell Iles has lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after having missed out on selection.

It means the AOC and Shooting Australia will only name a 16-person team - minus two-time Olympic gold medallist Diamond and Games bronze medallist Vella - until the case is decided.

"We will wait for the outcome before we make any selections," AOC spokesman Mike Tancred told AAP.

"The AOC has always adopted the approach that every athlete has the right to appeal if they are aggrieved with the selection in their sport.

"It is clear that Mitchell Iles has a great future and we look forward to him staying in the sport."

If Diamond were to miss out it would a major story as he is on the verge of competing at his seventh Olympics, aiming to join Dawn Fraser as the only Australians to win three Games gold medals in the same event.

It's understood Iles is not happy the veteran shooters were picked ahead of him despite meeting the national federation's benchmark score of 121 from 125 targets.

Iles shot that score or better three times between February 2015 and February 2016, as did Vella, while Diamond only did it twice.

However, one of Iles' scores was achieved at a South Australian state championship and another at a Junior Cup. Both of Diamond's were shot at top-tier World Cup events.

It's believed Iles appealed the decision internally but it was rejected, so he is taking it to CAS.

If the appeal is upheld, it'll be up to CAS to decide who is the affected party and, effectively, determine who will go to Rio.

Australia can only send two athletes to contest the men's trap.

He has also expressed hope of being the Australian flagbearer at the Games opening ceremony.


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Source: AAP


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