Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday said that not including athlete Anu Raghavan in the athletics relay team for Rio Olympics was an act of injustice against the athlete. The court asked the authorities to include Anu in the 4x400 m relay.
However, the Indian Olympics Association informed the court that the deadline for making changes in the team has elapsed and hence Anu cannot be included in the team.
After examining the track record of Anu and Ashwini Akkunji, the HC had asked the Indian Olympic Association to submit an affidavit citing the reason for not including Anu in the team.
Anu had filed a complaint against including Ashwini in the relay team after removing her upon direction of Ukrainian coach Yuri Ogorodnik. The HC had sent a notice to the Indian Atheletics Federation and Sports Authority of India on this basis.
Anu had clocked better time than Ashwini in the previous four meets. Anu's performance in the 400 m this season was better than that of Ashwini.
Ashwini faced a two-year ban for failing in doping tests in 2011 and India had dismissed the then coach Yuri Ogorodnik. However, Yuri was again appointed as the coach last year.
Olympian Beenamol, too, had demanded the inclusion of Anu in the Indian team. Beenamol had made it clear that performance should be the criterion in selection to the team and not factors like seniority.
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