British athletes who qualify for next year’s Olympics will be prevented from competing in the European Championships, according to guidelines released by British Athletics.
The governing body has published the selection policies for next year’s major events, which include the Olympics, Paralympics, European Championships and World Indoor Championships. Most of the policies remain the same, with athletes expected to qualify at the British Championships, which will be held in Birmingham between 24 and 26 June.
However, despite the European Championships starting in Amsterdam on 6 July – exactly a month before the Olympics begins in Rio – athletes will be replaced by a reserve unless they can demonstrate “that participation in the European Championships will benefit their preparation for the Olympic Games”.
“British Athletics does not believe that competing in individual events at the European Championships is appropriate preparation for the Rio Olympic Games,” the selection policy states. “As such, on 26 June (immediately following completion of the British Championships), athletes who have gained automatic nomination to Team GB for the Olympic Games in a track or road event OR any other athlete who declines selection for the European Championships will be withdrawn from the team for Amsterdam and replaced by a reserve athlete.
“Exceptions to this rule for track/road athletes will only be made by the performance director (in consultation with the relevant event group head) and only where an athlete can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the PD, that participation in the European Championships will benefit their preparation for the Olympic Games.”
