Judo in the Commonwealth Games

[LilBunnyRabbit]

A decision to select Sam Lowe for the British judo team in the commonwealth games after she defeated the reigning champion was overturned when the champion brought in a five-person strong legal team to appeal against the decision. In the selection Sam defeated the champion with very little difficulty, and in fact during the contest the champion broke her own wrist in a breakfall. The judge ruled that the fact that Sam was a better judoka was redundant since the champion has an Olympic medal in the art and 'reputation should outweigh performance'.

Sam has started an appeal against the decision, but with the selection deadline now past there seems little chance of it succeeding.

Suprisingly this didn't even touch the national papers, who usually devour a scandal like this whole. I only heard about it through our free local paper, since the girl involved went to the same school as me and lives in the area.

Any comments? Anyone who actually agrees with the judge's decision? I've got a biased opinion having met this girl, but I can't help but think that what the champion did is a disgrace to her sport.

[Saz]

I agree, the champions behaviour was disgraceful. Part of being a martial artist, sporting or not, is accepting defeating graciously, even though you might not agree with the desicion. I don't see how a judge who probably has no experience of the martial arts can be allowed to make a desicion like this. Reputation doesn't outweigh performance. Whats going to happen when this champion is too old to perform well enough to enter. Being selected for any team is a privilige, not a right.

[Darzeka]

This is a problem I have will ALL sporting contests.

Every team ever selected was not the best team available.

Politics has too much influence in sport and there is too much politcs in sport.

For this reason I think that individual sports are a better representation of skill than team sports.

There have been many scandals like this in Australia in recent past (need I say Kathy Watt?) and I find that these actions are deplorable but I think when it happens in junior teams and sunday sporting teams it is the worst. At least at the international level there are albeit very poor reasons they are reasons none the less.

I feel that the teams who are affected by this the least are professional sporting teams who have no home ground and are purely commercial. These teams rely entirely on sponsorships to make money so they will normally select talent over a name and are rather ruthless in telling someone they are not needed.
I am refering mainly to motor racing and cyclicing teams here.

[Freeform]

I think this is bull****! Do you know what the official BJA line on this is? How can a Judge reverse such a definative decision!

[YODA]

Utter spheroids!

Team selection shoudl ALWAYS be based on current form rather than past performance or reputation.

We'll be entering Seb Coe for the 1500m next!

[hongkongfuey]

And Steve Backley and Mick Hill in the javelin.

hang on a minute ....

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Just to let everyone know what's happened.

The counter-appeal succeeded, Kate Howey's case for replacing Sam in the Commonwealth games was found to be flawed, and Sam was reinstated.

The decision was finally made around 11pm on Tuesday the 23rd, only a few days before the games open.

Apparently Kate Howey has been offered a reserve place, but it has been suggested as being unlikely that she will take it.

[Silver_no2]

Kate Howey should be ashamed of herself. If I was the team coach/manager I would not pick her again, or at least until she has shown some remorse.

The individual should never consider themselves above the laws/rules of the game. Was Sam Lowe the one who couldn't compete in the Olympics because she was 200g over the weight limit?

[Silver_no2]

Just wanted to say "Well done" to all the fighters of the home nations in the Commonwealth Games, lots of medals...well done!!!!:D

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Particularly like to make a note, following on from the start of this thread, that Sam Lowe has taken the gold in her category.