British Gymnastics performance director defends decision to omit Becky Downie

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy British Gymnastics performance director James Thomas has defended the decision not to select Becky Downie as part of the four-strong British women’s team for next month’s Tokyo Olympics. Thomas was forced to deny the selection was related to the move by Becky and her younger sister Ellie to speak out on the sport’s abuse scandal last year, and stressed the decision to undertake the additional trial in difficult circumstances had been Downie’s own. British Gymnastics performance director James Thomas Nevertheless sources close to the gymnast told the PA news agency she believed she had done enough to justify her place in the team, and was left reeling after being informed to the contrary. But the British Athletes’ Commission, who earlier this year ran a helpline for young gymnasts in association with the NSPCC and whose head of athlete support, Sam Little, was on the selection panel as an independent observer, said they were “confident that despite difficult decisions being made, due process was followed”.