Caitriona Cuddihy will represent Ireland in the 4x400 metre relay at the London Olympics team after successfully appealing to the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) at her deselection from the squad.
An OCI tribunal, held in Dublin last Thursday, found that the initial selection of Cuddihy had been correct. As a result Joanna Mills, who had been called into the relay team, will now not be heading to the Games.
Mills, however, has the option of appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but revealed in a press conference that she is not going to make any rash decision.
Speaking in Antrim after this morning's decision the 19-year-old said that she was disappointed that the Tribunal upheld Cuddihy's appeal.
However, she hoped the setback would make her a stronger person and that she would continue on with her career in athletics.
The OCI's Appeal Tribunal held an in person hearing on Thursday last in Dublin city centre and heard submission from legal representatives of Ms Cuddihy, Athletics Ireland and Joanna Mills.
Mills prior appeal to Athletics Ireland against her non-selection for the relay team had been upheld and it was this against this decision which Cuddihy appealed.
The OCI Appeal Tribunal was chaired by Susan Ahern (executive member) along with William O'Brien (first vice-president) and Dermot Sherlock (honorary secretary general).
The Appeal Tribunal found that process for the original selection by the Athletics Ireland high performance relay selectors had been carried out in a fair and proportionate manner.
The tribunal found that the Athletics Ireland appeals panel did not properly construe selection. The tribunal cited two factors for Cuddihy's inclusion.
Firstly overall relay experience, believing the AIAP itself applied a narrow interpretation which was not contemplated under the selection factors.
Secondly, overall experience in major championships (individual and relay).
On the track, Cuddihy's personal best of 54.59 this season was .18secs slower than Mills' seasonal best at that stage.
Mills subsequently has gone on to run times of 54.17 and 54.52 at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
A statement from Athletics Ireland read: "We also have to acknowledge that the past three weeks has been enormously difficult for the athletes involved in this appeal process, their families, supporters and friends.
"At this point however there is a final decision as to selection and we believe that it is now in the interests of all, that we focus our attention on the Games themselves. We wish all of the athletes the best of luck in their efforts in London.”
