By JULIE ASH
Laser sailor Andrew Murdoch and men's 470 crew Simon Cooke and Alastair Gair have appealed to the Sports Disputes Tribunal after their Olympic Games non-selection.
Murdoch, who finished second in Yachting New Zealand's Olympic trials, has appealed the selection of winner Hamish Pepper while Cooke and Gair, who finished
third, have appealed the selection of 470 winners Andrew Brown and Jamie Hunt.
"It is all part of the process and I guess it is a way and a means for them to make sure that every question has been answered and every stone has been turned over before they accept the decision," said Yachting New Zealand's chief executive, Simon Wickham.
The disgruntled sailors and Yachting New Zealand will now put their cases to the tribunal, an eight-member independent body appointed by Sport and Recreation New Zealand, before a hearing takes place.
That date has yet to be set.
If the athletes are unhappy with the tribunal's decision they can then take the matter on to the Court of Arbitration for sport.
Melinda Henshaw and Jan Shearer, who won the women's 470 trial, were told they must compete in the world championships and prove they are capable of a top-10 finish at the Olympics to meet selection criteria before they are nominated.
Henshaw and Shearer appealed to Yachting New Zealand but have yet to take their case to the tribunal.
They have until Sunday to do so.
