Paris Olympics 2024: All you need to know about Lucas Corvee-Ronan Labar vs BWF fiasco

The French duo initially did not qualify for Paris Olympics 2024 after an error in points calculation.

French badminton players Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée have faced significant challenges in their attempt to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024. Initially, they believed they had secured their spot, but their qualification was revoked due to a point miscalculation by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

This error placed them behind compatriots Christo and Toma Junior Popov by a narrow margin of 29 points, a critical issue as only one pair from each country is allowed to compete.

In April, Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée were confident in their qualification after the Popov brothers were eliminated early in the European Championships. However, on April 17, the BWF updated the rankings, deducting points from Labar and Corvée due to a discovered error from the Sudirman Cup in May 2023.

The BWF had introduced a new rule for team tournaments that year, which led to mistakes in point allocations affecting the Olympic rankings and allowing the Popov brothers to overtake Labar and Corvée.

This sudden shift in rankings was a major setback for the duo. Labar expressed his frustration with the BWF’s brief apology, stating it did not adequately address the severe impact on their Olympic hopes. Despite this, Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée decided to challenge the decision legally.

Legal Challenge and CAS Ruling:

Taking their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), they achieved a significant victory. The CAS ruled in their favour and instructed the BWF to negotiate with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to expand the men’s doubles competition from 16 to 17 pairs.

This adjustment allowed both French pairs to participate. The final decision lied with the IOC, which had historically supported the BWF’s decisions. The IOC had asked to grant a wild card to increase the number of competing pairs.

France will now have two pairs in men’s doubles division at the Paris Olympics 2024. The pair of Christo Popov and Toma Popov will be accompanied by Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée.

While the draw was scheduled for Friday at 4 pm, Kuala Lumpur time, it has now been postponed. The Paris Olympics 2024 will now have three pools of four pairs and one pool of five pairs in Badminton men’s doubles.

The IOC approved the request, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) will now need to convene a new commission to finalize the Olympic selections, as the French Federation has already initiated contact with the CNOSF.

Throughout this period, Ronan Labar and Lucas Corvée have received strong backing from the French Badminton Federation.

Federation President Yohan Penel described the situation as unjust and scandalous and praised his team for closely examining the BWF regulations, which strengthened their case. Penel was relieved about the CAS ruling.

Despite the setbacks, Labar and Corvée were always remained determined. They have continued to express their frustration with how their dreams were handled but have remained focused on their goal.

Labar emphasized the impact of the situation, describing it as an “earthquake” and an “explosion” that shattered their plans.

As this controversy has reached its conclusion, Labar and Corvee’s determination and support from their federation has finally seen them achieve their dream of competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Also Read: Why badminton men’s doubles draw for Paris Olympics 2024 has been postponed?

In summary, the BWF’s ranking error significantly impacted Labar and Corvée, leading to their initial disqualification from the Olympics.

The CAS ruling in their favor has given them an entry to Paris. The support from the French Badminton Federation has been crucial in their fight, and the outcome of this case has made the pair eligible to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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