The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has ruled two-time Olympic gold medal shooter Michael Diamond ineligible for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in light of recent criminal charges.
The 44-year-old was charged with drink-driving and firearm offences in May.
Diamond has protested his innocence and was given the chance to defend his case in front of the AOC executive board on Thursday, after Shooting Australia advised they should not consider Diamond for the Australian team.
However, the AOC upheld Shooting Australia's position, confirmed in a release to the media on Thursday.
"Shooting Australia today advised Michael Diamond and the Australian Olympic Committee that he is ineligible for nomination to the AOC for selection to the 2016 Australian Olympic Team," an AOC statement read.
The statement quoted Shooting Australia chief executive Damien Marangon as saying: "The incident involving Michael Diamond has, in our view, put our sport in a position which is inappropriate."
AOC chief executive Fiona de Jong said, "The Executive felt there was no basis on which to excuse the breaches," in the same statement.
Diamond has the right to appeal his non-selection ahead of the July 4 nomination deadline for Shooting Australia.
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