Tokyo Olympian Ben Connor has pulled out of subsequent week’s European Highway Working Championships as a result of athletes have been informed to pay for journey prices by governing physique
Olympian Ben Connor has turned down one other Nice Britain vest having been informed he would wish to pay to compete at subsequent week’s European Highway Working Championships.
Connor, who ran on the Tokyo Video games, was initially named within the squad to compete within the half marathon in Leuven, Belgium. However he has now determined to reject the invitation for monetary causes whereas criticising what he mentioned was an absence of transparency from UK Athletics across the monetary state of the game.
In its choice coverage for the competitors, the governing physique mentioned it might ask athletes fascinated about operating to pay as much as £1,100 for journey, lodging, meals, equipment and workers. UKA additionally mentioned it’s now “unimaginable” to fund each competitors in an more and more busy calendar.
However in a social media publish saying his withdrawal, Derby-based Connor mentioned: “Representing your nation is a privilege, and in athletics is earned through a qualifying course of, which whereas not all the time good, provides everybody the identical possibilities to achieve choice.
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“Coming from a working-class background I do not just like the potential precedent being set the place individuals, particularly junior athletes of the longer term, do not have the identical growth or competitors alternatives due to funds.
“I want there was extra transparency and honesty concerning the state of our governing our bodies funds and about how our sport is being managed for this to be the place.”
UKA, which receives £20m in funding from UK Sport per yr, has mentioned the fee is lower than £500 whereas nationwide our bodies, together with England Athletics, have provided to subside.
“With a purpose to be chosen for the European Highway Working Championships, athletes had been required to submit an expression of curiosity kind which acknowledged they had been conscious of the potential athlete contribution which must be made,” UKA mentioned in a press release.
“Upon choice athletes had been additionally suggested that the sooner ‘most contribution quantity’ of £1,100, was prone to be beneath £500 and in some circumstances across the £2-250 mark with an additional contribution from their house nation athletics organisation.
“With extra competitions being created at Worldwide degree throughout differing disciplines and age teams it’s unimaginable for the game to fund all groups. As much as 500 athletes can put on the GB & NI vest every year throughout all disciplines and competitions and UKA feels it’s higher to present athletes alternative to compete than choose to not ship groups in any respect.”
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