Brazilian bid to oust Irish rejected

A Court of Arbitration for Sport panel has dismissed an application from Brazil to replace Ireland’s women’s bobsleigh team at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

The application, made by the Brazilian Ice Sports Federation (CBDG), requested that the Brazilian women’s bobsleigh team be admitted in place of the Irish team of Aoife Hoey and Claire Bergin, whose place had previously been put in jeopardy by a challenge from Australia.

The CAS panel rejected the CBDG’s application and also dismissed a request that the panel should direct the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to offer an additional place in the women’s bobsleigh event.

On Tuesday, CAS suggested to the IOC and VANOC, the local organising committee, that an Australian women’s bob team should be included in the Games and recommended the inclusion of a 21st team.

On Wednesday, the IOC ratified CAS’ recommendations, including both the Australian and Irish bobsleigh teams in the women’s two-man bobsleigh competition.