Pitel's Olympic team appeal rejected

Edwige Pitel's appeal to be part of the French Olympic team competing in Beijing was denied by an administrative tribunal in Grenoble on Wednesday. She had not been selected to the French team, which was named to include road riders Christel Ferrier-Bruneau, Jeannie Longo, and Maryline Salvetat. Longo and Salvetat have also been picked to contest the time trial.

A judge considering the circumstances found no serious doubts as to the legality of the decisions made in naming the squad.

Pitel's lawyer André Soulier had argued on behalf of his client, who third in the time trial at the French National Championships in Semur-en-Auxois, that "the decision disregarded selection criteria," due to "conflict with a national coach, who also coaches one of her competitors," according to the AFP.