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Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios says the way he’s been treated by the Australian Olympic Committee left him with no other choice but to withdraw from the Olympics in Rio de Janiero.
Kyrgios claims the AOC is out of touch and made its position clear that it didn’t want the 21-year-old in the team.
His decision comes after Australia’s Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller’s spoke out against Kyrgios’ on-court behaviour.
“I think some of Nick’s comments in social media shows he doesn’t really understand what it means to be an Australian Olympian,” Chiller said last month.
“I’ve said all along it’s not just about winning on the court, it’s how you go about it.”
“As with any athlete. There are a couple of athletes on notice. Nick has just come off a suspended sentence from his International Tennis Federation. Any athlete that has just had a disciplinary action from their international federation is on watch,” she said.
Kyrgios replied on twitter to those comments slamming Chiller by pointing out that he never was suspended before starting a poll asking his fans whether he should go to Rio or not.
In a 400 word statement Kyrgios thanked Tennis Australia for its support and for nominating him for the team.
“While I have received assurances from Tennis Australia that I will be nominated for the Olympic team, the AOC has chosen to publicly and privately disparage me. Not one member of the AOC has reached out to me, my family, my team, or representatives of Tennis Australia, asking for a meeting or the opportunity to discuss their concerns,” Kyrgios said.
“I am fortunate to be young enough to hopefully have a chance to wear the green and gold at the Olympics in the future.”
Kyrgios’ decision to withdraw from the Olympics comes after Bernard Tomic also pulled out, deciding instead to play another ATP tournament in Mexico.
READ NICK KYRGIOS’ FULL STATEMENT BELOW
It is with a heavy heart that I have had to make a decision not to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Coming to this decision has been a lengthy and difficult process, and I am extremely disappointed to have been put in this unfortunate position.
Representing Australia at the Olympic Games has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. Playing in the Olympics was a goal this year; I planned my tournament schedule around Rio and made sure to fulfil my Olympic eligibility. Unfortunately, while I have expressed every intention of trying to win a medal for my country in Rio, it’s very clear to me that the Australian Olympic Committee has other plans.
AOC’s unfair and unjust treatment of me over the last four weeks, as well as the organization’s crystal clear position on whether they want me to be a part of the Australian Olympic team, has solidified my final decision.
While I have received assurances from Tennis Australia that I will be nominated for the Olympic team, the AOC has chosen to publicly and privately disparage me. Not one member of the AOC has reached out to me, my family, my team, or representatives of Tennis Australia, asking for a meeting or the opportunity to discuss their concerns. The AOC’s unwarranted attacks on me demonstrate the organization’s inability to understand the circumstances surrounding highly competitive sports. I also don’t want the AOC’s treatment of me to become a distraction and negatively affect the Australian Olympic team.
I am grateful to Tennis Australia for standing by me through this process and nominating me for the team. I also want to thank the public and the members of the media who have voiced their support.
I am a proud Australian and have always loved representing my country. I am fortunate to be young enough to hopefully have a chance to wear the green and gold at the Olympics in the future. I hope that in four years I will find myself in the position to be a part of the Australian Olympic team.
I would like to wish every athlete representing Australia the best of luck this August and will be following their progress and supporting and cheering them from afar.
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