Sports Taekwondo Australia is seeking clarification from the World Taekwondo Federation over the allocation of Olympic ranking points ©Sports Taekwondo Australia

Sports Taekwondo Australia (STA) is seeking clarification from the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) over the allocation of Olympic ranking points amid claims from some of its athletes that their ability to qualify for Rio 2016 has been impeded.

STA says it is following up a perceived inconsistency surrounding the number of points members of the Australian team were awarded for their part in both the 2014 Oceania Championships in Sydney and 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

The Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported the issue to be in relation to a WTF rule change regarding the minimum number of taekwondo players required to contest each weight class in a competition.

Frustrated athletes claim they were not given the full quota they deserved, and that it has hindered their chances of qualifying for higher-ranking competitions, such as some WTF Grand Prix events.

According to STA chief executive Joelie Chisholm, both the organisation and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) are currently in correspondence with the WTF to try to resolve the issue

"The WTF has been somewhat inconsistent in their application of one of their competition rules with regards to rankings, and we're just in correspondence with them to try and understand that," he told AAP.

"We're still working through it with them."

Carmen Marton (left) is among Australia's potential selections for the Rio 2016 Oceania qualification tournament in February
Carmen Marton (left) is expected to be among Australia's potential selections for the Rio 2016 Oceania qualification tournament in February, where Olympic places will be allocated ©Getty Images

An AOC spokesman says the organisation is helping STA to follow up an "administrative mix-up", but believes there is nothing sinister involved.

Australia's final pathway to Rio 2016 comes at February’s Oceania qualification tournament for which STA can only select two men and two women to compete. 

Among the possible inclusions is Safwan Khalil, the London 2012 Olympian and who is the best-placed on the Olympic rankings published following this month’s WTF Grand Prix Final in Mexico City.

Ranked 10th in the under 58 kilogram category, Khalil is in contention for selection along with wife and fellow London 2012 Olympian Carmen Marton, Australia’s first taekwondo world champion, and her older sister Caroline Marton.

No Australians competed at this year's WTF Grand Prix Final after which the top six taekwondo players in each weight class earned automatic Rio 2016 qualification.

insidethegames has commented the WTF for a comment. 



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