When in doubt, they continue to train. A little. Ronan Labar (35 years old) and Lucas Corvée (30 years old) have not put away their rackets since the blow fell on their heads, a few days after the European Badminton Championships in Germany. Even if the heart is not there, neither is the intensity. “We keep ourselves in shape, not much more,” describes Ronan Labar.
A month ago, everyone thought they were qualified for the Olympic Games. According to the Race ranking for Paris 2024, they were the first French double, ahead of the Popov brothers. But that was before the International Federation (BWF) realized a calculation error which distorted the qualification campaign for a year. The BWF restored the ranking quietly, without warning anyone, and especially not the two French people, the only unfortunate people on the circuit affected by the blunder.
So here is Labar and Corvée without the Olympic Games. Definitely ? This is the position of the BWF, which further confirmed its position in a letter sent on Monday to the French Badminton Federation (FFBad). Last week, the latter had to announce its qualifiers for Paris 2024. In a position faithful to the true classification of the Race, the FFBad had named Christo and Toma Junior Popov for the men’s doubles, hoping to see the selection “enriched soon” by Labar and Corvée, of which she requests “exceptional qualification”.
“This is probably our last chance”
The fight of the two thirty-somethings can no longer rely on many recourses. The last one is probably played out with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). David Lappartient, the president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), took charge of the matter based on elements provided by the FFBad and the players. The goal remains to obtain a wild card. “We keep our fingers crossed,” says Ronan Labar. This is probably our last chance. »
The multiple French champion does not hide being affected by the events, he the sports teacher who has difficulty explaining to his students how a qualified athlete can see his qualification disappear like this: “For the BWF, we represent nothing , despite my eighteen years on the circuit and Lucas’s fifteen.”
Last attempt before the CAS?
While regretting the lack of support from other international players (“It’s us who are affected but it can happen to others”), Ronan Labar hopes for “a quick response because the wait is hard”. In the event of failure, all that will remain is to initiate legal proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In the meantime, the members of the men’s doubles are training… solo. Labar in Aix-en-Provence and Corvée in Issy-les-Moulineaux. And without a tournament on the program, as they had decided when they were qualified. “It’s more about professional conscience, we can’t progress like that,” warns Ronan Labar. Who still doesn’t know if his international career has ended or not.
2024-05-21 13:17:48
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