Dodds appeals Games omission

Kiwi triathlete Tony Dodds is appealing his omission from the New Zealand Commonwealth Games squad.

The New Zealand triathlon team to go to the Gold Coast in April was announced yesterday and Dodds wasn’t named.

Dodd’s mother and manager Sandie spoke to Stuff about the appeal, but didn’t want to say anything that could interfere with the appeal.

‘‘Tony is highly disappointed in not being selected for the Commonwealth Games, in particular for the relay team,’’ she said. ‘‘We’re in an appeal process that Tony engaged at the beginning of the week when he was told he was not named.’’

She said while this is ongoing they want to make sure they get a fair and unbiased appeal through Triathlon New Zealand. Sandie said they were seeking legal advice for the appeal.

‘‘Devastated not to be in the Commonwealth games team that was presented today,’’ Dodds wrote on Twitter. ‘‘I was not intending to publicly announce this, but as Tri NZ has presented the team, I want to acknowledge that I am appealing to their decision and am continuing my training for Gold Coast 2018.’’

Triathlon New Zealand high performance director Mark Elliott said he couldn’t comment on the situation.

Triathlon New Zealand make their recommendations to the New Zealand Olympic Committee, who then decide who goes to the games.

‘‘We have a selection process we follow,’’ Elliott said. ‘‘Obviously it’s communicated out to the athletes and coaches about a year ago normally, about 10 months ago.

‘‘Our role is to quantify and qualify the nominations to NZOC because it’s their team,’’ he said.

The 30-year-old Dodds finished 21st at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Wanaka athlete finished 10th at the 2-14 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and fifth in the team relay.

The 29-year-old Ryan Sissons, who has been to two Olympics, and 21-year-old Tayler Reid were the two New Zealand men named to go to the Commonwealth Games.

Andrew Hewitt, 35, Rebecca Spence, 29, and Nicole van der Kaay, 21, were the women.