Guy Dresser | Oronne Communications - Multiple Olympic canoe slalom champion Tony Estanguet is to join the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee and will, in the process, become a Member of the Olympic supreme body.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) this morning threw out an appeal by another athlete who was disqualified from the Commission election last year.

On Twitter shortly after the CAS decision was announced, Estanguet reacted with gratitude: “Thank you to all the athletes who have supported me in this adventure. You can count on my total commitment. #timetowork.”

The CAS rejected the appeal filed by the Japanese hammer thrower Koji Murofushi and his National Olympic Committee against the IOC’s decision in August last year to withdraw his candidacy for the IOC Athletes’ Commission election.

The CAS did not give reasons today but will do so in a few days’ time.

The ruling mattered hugely because joining the Athletes’ Commission carried with it the real prize of membership of the supreme Olympic body. Estanguet will now effectively become the most influential canoeist in the Olympic movement at a time when the sport needs all the support it can get in Olympic circles.

Background

Although Estanguet was elected last summer at the Olympic Games, two other athlete candidates were disqualified in the process due to allegedly flouting strict no-canvassing rules.

Both appealed against the decision and today’s ruling is the second to go the IOC’s way – the CAS ruled in March that the disqualification of Taiwan’s Chu Mu-yen was not disproportionate after Chu was found to have handed out name cards and shown documents on a tablet computer during the election in London (candidates are strictly prohibited from canvassing or similar activity).

The full text of the statement from the CAS can be found here.

Links

• Tony Estanguet’s 4-week wait for Olympic case
• Tony Estanguet hangs up his paddles
• 3-time Olympic canoe champ Estanguet’s book is out