Steffensen boycotts Commonwealth Games won't defend 400m title
Australian 400m runner John Steffensen has decided to boycott the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in protest after Athletics Australia (AA) refused to guarantee him a place at the Delhi Games. He claimed that his treatment by AA was unfair.
“Athletes are getting bullied, dictated to, copping decisions that are essentially jeopardising careers,” said Steffensen. “I explained the surgeons’ findings and they (AA) effectively said ‘too bad, run’.”
Steffensen had requested, and was granted, an exemption from the National Championships in April after back surgery 13 weeks prior, but he was not granted automatic qualification for the Delhi Games. He felt that competing in the National Championships would hurt his preparation for Delhi.
Steffensen was one of four men to qualify for the Nationals. The top two finishers at the Nationals gain automatic selection for the Delhi Games, and a third athlete is selected by AA to attend.
When AA refused to guarantee him one of three Commonwealth spots he ran in the Nationals, and took second place earning a place at the Commonwealth Games. Now he is has given that spot up in protest.
‘We would be disappointed if Steffensen will not available to represent Australia in the 400m and the 4×400m relay in New Delhi,’ said Dallas O’Brien, chief executive at AA, in a statement.
The boycott has been supported by Steffensen’s teammates. Sprinter Matt Shirvington argued that the National Championships require athletes to ‘double peak’, which is in reference to an athlete needing to perform at their highest level twice in one season. If athletes concentrate on the April National Games they’ll not race as well in October.
‘Double peaking’ is a common concern for Australian athletes, who compete during the southern hemisphere’s summer in Australia, and then have to stay prepared for larger meets during the northern hemisphere’s summer.
Steffensen was part of Australia’s silver medal winning 4x100m team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and took bronze at the World Championships in Berlin last year. He took gold in both the 400m and the 4x400m relay in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
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