The Australian Olympic Committee has asked Hockeyroos star Anna Flanagan for a „please explain” as her Rio Games fate hangs in the balance after the 24-year-old Canberran kept a drink driving charge secret from Hockey Australia.
Not only has Flanagan lost her licence for 10 months, but she was also fined $1000 for an incident in Perth, where the Aussie hockey program is based, in March.
Hockey Australia only found out about the incident on Friday and they are expected to announce Flanagan’s punishment on Saturday afternoon.
She was named in the Hockeyroos squads for the upcoming International Hockey Open and the Champions Trophy in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
But the 24-year-old might have also fallen foul of the AOC at a time when Olympic athletes’ behaviour is under the microscope.
All „shadow team members” were asked to sign a declaration listing any existing charges.
Flanagan attended an Aspire session on March 1, when she would have signed her declaration – which was before her drink-driving offence.
The AOC were awaiting a response from Flanagan on Saturday.
„We’ve asked her for a please explain. As a shadow team member she had to sign a form and have to declare any existing charges. We’re not sure if she’s declared that [incident],” an AOC spokesperson said.
„We were unaware and we’ve now asked her for more details.”
Australia chef de mission for Rio de Janeiro Kitty Chiller has been vocal about athletes’ behaviour forming an important part of Olympic selection.
Two-time gold medallist Michael Diamond was charged with alleged firearms and drink-driving offences last weekend, while Chiller has also told Canberra tennis star Nick Kyrgios he’s „on watch” for his on-court behaviour.
Kyrgios bowed out of the French Open in the third round on Saturday morning, losing to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in straight sets, 6-2 7-6 (9-7) 6-2.
The 21-year-old Canberran was hindered by a shoulder problem from early in the first set as he unsuccessfully tried to become the first Aussie male since Lleyton Hewitt in 2007 to make it to the fourth round at Roland Garros.
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/act-sport/hockeyroo-anna-flanagan-loses-licence-for-drink-driving-20160528-gp66ix.html
