|
The group, which includes Mo Farah, Katarina
Johnson-Thompson, Laura Muir and Adam Gemili, are seeking to
challenge an International Olympic Committee rule that bars them
from using their name, image or performance in advertising
during the Games without the IOC's prior consent.
"The BOA can confirm it has formally responded to the recent
legal challenge brought against the BOA's interpretation of the
IOC's Rule 40 in the UK," a BOA spokesperson said
The spokesperson said the BOA was trying to balance the desire
for individual athletes to maximize personal sponsorship revenue
with the need to preserve and enhance the current system of
selling rights collectively.
The BOA met with the athletes' representatives last week in an
attempt to resolve the dispute.
"However, despite those encouraging conversations, we have been
dismayed by the ongoing legal tactics being conducted in the
background, which in no way reflects the spirit of the
discussions held," the spokesperson added.
"Therefore we have been forced to respond fully and robustly to
the legal challenge and have done so in the best interests of
all of the athletes we serve.
"We reiterate that it is clearly not in the interest of any
party to enter into a protracted legal dispute ahead of the
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games."
Gemili, who competes in the men's 100m and 200m, told the BBC
last month that the rules limiting sponsorship were "ridiculous,
unjust and unfair".
"For us it's about creating the opportunity for every single
athlete to go out there and create their own marketing
opportunities so they don't have to work a full-time job," he
had added.
(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
