Athletics Ireland has denied that it used a runner’s background as part of its Olympic Games selection policy.
Moldova-born marathon runner Sergiu Ciobanu ran a faster qualifying time than Belfast-based athlete Paul Pollock but was not selected on the Ireland team for Rio, with Pollock joining Mick Clohisey and Kevin Seaward on the three-man squad.
Ciobanu, who has appealed the decision, claimed on social media: “I have placed reliance on the published selection policy and have used that selection policy as the basis of my preparations for the Olympic Games.
“It’s disgusting to see that rules were not respected. I trusted an Association which I lost respect for.”
He also told the42 that he “felt like the fact I was born in Moldova is what cost me my place.
“If you look at the team selection, (Athletics Ireland) picked the three fastest women and they didn’t pick the three fastest men.
“I feel like if I was born in Ireland, in the sticks, I would have been selected.”
“It’s disgusting to see that rules were not respected."
Athletics Ireland issued a statement denying it failed to follow its own selection policy.
They said: "Athletics Ireland understand the disappointment of athletes who were not selected.
"We categorically and completely reject any inference that an athlete’s background was in any way a factor in the decision. The selection process and criteria has been in place since 2015 and communicated to all and has not been changed.
"The five-person panel of experienced people, Jim Aughney, Eamon Harvey, Patsy McGonagle, Brid Golden, Paul McNamara with Kevin Ankrom as chair, assessed the situation carefully.
"The panel made very difficult decisions given that we were privileged to have to make choices with so many athletes hitting the qualification times.
“The decisions were based purely on which athletes the panel believed would deliver the best performances at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"We will deal with the appeals which will be heard by an independent appeal panel."
Pollack and Ciobanu both ran their qualifying times in Berlin last year, with the Belfast man 14 seconds slower.
But he has been in better form this season, running fast times in recent half marathons. However, Ciobanu's coach Jerry Kiernan slammed the decision, saying that half marathons should have no influence on who makes the team.
