Mountain biker Chris Jongewaard failed in his attempt to join Australia’s team for next month’s Beijing Olympics when he was turned down for selection by the Australian Olympic Committee here Saturday.
Jongewaard is facing hit and run and drink-driving offences relating to a road accident last year which left fellow cyclist Matthew Rex with severe head injuries.
He has pleaded not guilty and is due to face court again later this year. AOC president John Coates said he wrote a letter to Jongewaard stating that his conduct had brought him into disrepute.
Coates’ letter read: “Putting to one side the allegations of criminal misconduct, your conduct — namely your admitted consumption of alcohol during the course of that day, driving while likely in my view to be under the influence of alcohol and being involved in an accident while in that state — are sufficient for me to form the view, within the discretion I have under the Selection By-Law, that your conduct was likely to and did bring yourself into disrepute.”
Coates told Jongewaard he had the right to appeal the AOC’s decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.