From Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF:
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| Rory Chesser |
“Rory Chesser (Ennis Track Club) and Brian Murphy (Crusaders) are two Irish athletes who have been entered for the European Track and Field Championships in Helsinki next week.
“However the Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) has now decided not to let them compete.
“Rory has ran the European Athletics Association 1,500m A standard (or Athletics Ireland B standard) four times in recent months. In the past ten days alone, he has competed over the distance four times trying to achieve the AAI A standard, and has travelled as far as Sweden and Finland for races.
“He was entered for his event by the AAI and is on the EAA start list.
“Brian Murphy is listed for the 4x400m relay team and has been entered as an individual for the 400m having run the EAA A standard at least three times this year. He won’t be sent either.
“Other Irish athletes on the team for the Europeans have only AAI B Standards, while one athlete hasn’t even run a B standard.
“Rory and Brian are entered for the Championships. Their names are on the start lists. It is an AAI decision that is preventing them from taking their rightful place on the starting line. Please lend your support.
“Call the AAI on 01- 8869933 and ask to speak to a relevant AAI official. Ask why Rory and Brian are not being allowed to compete in their respective events though they have been entered.
“There is a sample email at the bottom of this message that you can forward on to any/all of the following AAI officials (email addresses obtained from the AAI website):
AAI President – cocathain@AIT.IE
High Performance Director – performance@athleticsireland.ie
editor@irishrunner.ie
admin@athleticsireland.ie
ceo@athleticsireland.ie
athleteservices@athleticsireland.ie
development@athleticsireland.ie
Sample email:
Dear Athletics Ireland official,
I’m emailing to ask why Rory Chesser and Brian Murphy are not being allowed to compete in their respective events in the forthcoming European T&F Championships? Both athletes are entered for their events. It is an AAI decision that is preventing them from competing.
Rightfully included on the Irish team for the European Championships are several athletes who haven’t obtained the AAI A Standard for their event, but have run an AAI B (or an European Athletics Association A) standard.
Some of them have only run one B standard in the last year. There is also a female sprinter included on the team who will compete as an individual in these championships even though she doesn’t even have an AAI B Standard.
Rory and Brian have run their respective B standards at least 3 times in the last year (Rory has 4 B standard times to his credit). They are both on the start lists on the EAA website for their events. An AAI decision is preventing Rory from competing. Brian will not get the opportunity of running in his individual event either (although he is a member of the relay squad). This is a disgraceful decision by the decision makers in the AAI.
Why are these two athletes not being allowed run?
Sincerely,
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