Sprinter Luxolo Adams will be pursuing legal action against Athletics SA (ASA) after he was cut from the South African Olympic Games team, which starts in Paris later this month.
Adams was the casualty in the squad after Wayde van Niekerk opted out of the 400m to focus on the 200m instead.
It meant there was no place for Adams, even though he had run a faster qualifying time than the 400m world record-holder Van Niekerk.
“This decision has been incredibly disheartening, especially considering the journey I have undertaken and the mental and physical challenges I have faced,” Adams said.
Scathing from Luxolo Adams @GaytonMcK @SportArtsCultur please intervene pic.twitter.com/Ue84OB0Aax
— I'm Lebohang Nkutha (@Lebohanginnoc14) July 12, 2024
Poor timing
“This decision came just three weeks before the Olympic Games and was communicated to me through an informal and distressing method, showing a lack of respect, professionalism, consistency, and lack of consideration for my mental health.
“I am currently seeking urgent legal intervention to prevent ASA from removing me from the team which I qualified for,” he said, “and for them to be transparent and consistent in their processes and selection criteria.”
Fellow sprinter Sinesipho Dambile has also missed out on selection after Van Niekerk’s move to the 200m.
The handling of the issue and the timing is poor on the part of ASA, but they are within their right to do so as Van Niekerk, 31, is much more experienced than the 27-year-old Adams and 22-year-old Dambile.
ASA have to choose three athletes to compete in the 200m, but the problem is that five SA runners have qualified. Shaun Maswanganyi and Benji Richardson are the other two athletes who will compete in the individual sprint event for the nation.