After the calculation error made by the International Badminton Federation, the French men’s doubles pair, Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvéen saw their Olympic dream disappear. In a press release, the French Federation, until then silent, supports the two French people. But above all, ask the BWF to find a solution to qualify the two French pairs, the Popov brothers and Labar/Corvée. Which would be an unprecedented decision because only one ticket is normally allocated. Yohan Penel, the president of the FFbaD, discusses this matter for RMC Sport.
Yohan Penel, we have not yet heard from you on this matter. What was your reaction last week to the ranking change?
Above all, there was this extremely joyful reaction to the results of the French team in the European Championships, since we won the first two European titles in history. And this information was completely canceled by the BWF’s miscalculation. There is both a feeling of injustice and scandal and then a feeling of injustice also because we have the impression that we are being robbed. And we did not have the right to media treatment for these exceptional performances. So indeed, on two counts, we are very angry about this.
Since then, there has been the press release from the BWF, which recognizes an error and justifies itself. How did you react?
As soon as this modified classification was published, we mobilized to ask for explanations. They arrived three days later with this inhumane press release. Which explains that indeed, there was an error. It was corrected a year later and was circulating there is nothing to see, it is like that and not otherwise. So indeed, it denotes a certain rigidity of the federation, but above all an inhumanity which contrasts with the extraordinary destinies and adventures that our high-level athletes experience throughout the year. And the BWF must not forget that without the athletes, there is no longer an international federation.
Because its economic model is based on the dozens, even hundreds, of international events that take place all year round and it is impossible, today, to disrespect in this way. Everyone has the right to make a mistake and I have no problem with the fact that there is an error made in an algorithm which must take into account regular rule changes. However, it is inconceivable that we would make changes a year later. If these changes had occurred during Olympic qualification in 2023, there would have been no problem. There, the problem is one: on the form, it is done on the sly, without warning anyone. Two, it’s a change of points awarded a year later without ever recognizing that this error in the first Olympic qualifying tournament completely distorted the entire qualifying process.
Distorted the entries into tournaments, distorted the allocation of seeds, distorted everyone’s strategies because there, obviously, Ronan and Lucas, that’s what stands out because they were qualified, they are no longer. But more than fifty pairs were impacted by these modifications. So there is an upheaval in the entire world ranking. On the other hand, the only ones whose Olympic status is modified are Lucas and Ronan. Faced with this, it is inconceivable to be satisfied with this kind of laconic press release and move on to something else.
Since then, have you had any exchanges with the International Federation?
No way. Well yes and no. In the sense that we, our work for a week, has been to go through all the regulations of the BWF to find loopholes and then to do things properly to find the terms of appeal and file these appeals in coordination with the lawyer athletes and with the CNOSF legal department. Since it is the CNOSF, ultimately, which will select the players in the different disciplines. So we wanted to take the time, not to rush, not to miss any steps and to find levers in the BWF regulations which show that it has not verified and applied its own regulations on certain aspects and therefore to file an official complaint.
So there is a claim that was filed by the players’ lawyer that we supported. At the same time, we addressed the elected officials of the Board of Directors of the International Federation because there is its general assembly this Saturday and we must put pressure on the elected officials so that we find a solution . There are several of them. But the one we recommend is obviously the 17-member solution, which exists in the BWF texts.
That is to say that we would go from 16 to 17 pairs at the Olympic Games?
Our proposal to end the crisis is indeed to qualify the two French pairs. Both the one which is qualified with regard to the current ranking and which is a mathematical reality, and to qualify the pair which, with regard to the sporting aspect, qualified since they were still ahead until April 15 . And therefore to move to 17 pairs, even if the decision of the BWF will not be binding. Since the final decision rests with the IOC. The current organization at the Olympics is four groups of four. There, that would make three hens of four and one hen of five. Here is now the least bad solution with regard to sporting fairness and the values of Olympism which we remind you are: excellence, respect and friendship. This is the solution that seems best suited to the situation in which they have put themselves.
But do you think that this request can actually succeed?
Last week, we were, in any case, on the line of defending our athletes to the end, of going to the IOC, of going to the court of arbitration for sport to once again, highlight the question of sporting fairness, because this decision is incomprehensible. Our teams have done a fantastic job of dissecting the BWF regulations. And in view of the points of settlement that have been raised, there is real and concrete hope now. Obviously, the game is not won and it will not be won until the first day of the Games. Because lots of things can happen. There may be appeals from many stakeholders.
Have you had discussions with Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée but also the Popov brothers?
With Ronan, Lucas and their lawyer, we interact daily. To do things once again, by all going in the same direction and without putting ourselves at odds because we know very well how things can happen in legal procedures like that. Christo and Toma Junior (Popov) completely understand the situation. Obviously, they are happy to be qualified and it is out of the question for us to desqualify them in favor of Lucas and Ronan. Christo and Toma were informed today of all the steps we were going to take so they would not be surprised by the different communications that were going to be made today.
But to return to this calculation error, beyond the error of the BWF, could anyone, whether it is you at the Federation, or even the players who count their points, have seen this error?
As the BWF press release says, they changed the rule on team competitions at the beginning of 2023. Algorithms do not always comply with regulations. We all have to take our share of responsibility in this because everyone could have asked the question. And obviously someone asked this since we would not have arrived at a correction in the last week of the Olympic qualification, if that had not been the case.
Obviously, we are obliged to trust our International Federation which has an important aura on the international scene. In terms of influence on social networks, it is on the podium of international federations. It is a federation that sells itself as being very professional in many aspects. There comes a time when we have to move forward with confidence. Now yes, indeed, everyone could have realized that there had been a problem with these point allocations. Now, the primary responsibility remains on the shoulders of those who produce these regulations.
Comments collected by Léna Marjak
2024-04-24 20:20:48
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