Steffensen 'to boycott Games'
Australia's reigning Commonwealth 400-metre champion John Steffensen
will boycott next month's New Delhi games because of a dispute with
Athletics Australia, reports said on Thursday.
Steffensen, 28, who won the 400m and 400m relay at the 2006 Melbourne
Games, said he he wants to expose the "bullying, egotism and outdated
approach" of the national governing body.
"This is the toughest decision I've ever had to make but I want
people to realise this is more than another headline, more than someone
creating controversy," Steffensen told The Daily Telegraph. Steffensen
said he is at odds with AA over what he claims is four years of
unanswered complaints.
The outspoken runner told the newspaper that after completing a
victory lap at the Melbourne Games, he returned to the athletes' village
and found his door had been kicked in and room trashed.
He said AA officials assured him the matter would be dealt with, but
he claims four years on nothing has happened. AFP |