GB team in row over Allan

Allan's complaints likely to fall on deaf ears

The British judo squad faced being pulled out of the Olympics after their protest over Debbie Allan failing to make her weight category.

Allan saw her hopes of Olympic gold in the women's 52 kg judo end in controversial fashion when she was adjudged to be too heavy by 50 grams.

The verdict came after the weigh-in scales had to be repaired following apparent tampering.

The British team made a protest but stopped short of lodging an official complaint with the Sydney organising committee when they were forced to accept the decision.

They had asked for a time extension for Allan when she became dehydrated during her bid to make the weight and was medically advised to take on a litre of fluid.

I feel I have let everyone down who has supported me

  Debbie Allan

That meant she would not have made the required limit even with a time extension.

Allan originally tested her weight at 5.10 am local time but found that it changed as she shifted around on the scales.

She told The Times: "I am very upset. I thought I was in easy reach of making the weight. I feel I have let everyone down who has supported me."

Complained

After she complained, a technician dismantled the scales and found pieces of tissues inside. He repaired the scales in time for the weigh-in which began at 6.00 am.

The scales are recalibrated twice per day and had been adjusted on Saturday evening.

"In between yesterday evening and this morning someone altered the scales," said Michel Brousse of the International Judo Federation.

Allan's team manager Dianne Bell said: "She's let herself and her team down.

"Obviously she's very disappointed, as we all are, and the rest of the team was feeling a little down this morning.

"We don't know why she failed the weight. She always has problems making the weight but she made it in Canada in June for the Commonwealth tournament."