Australia would not pick convicted rapist Van de Velde

A convicted rapist would not beryllium picked for nan Australian Olympics team, says main Anna Meares aft Steven van de Velde was named successful nan Netherlands squad for Paris 2024.

Van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to 4 years successful situation successful 2016 aft pleading blameworthy to raping a 12-year-old British woman erstwhile he was 19.

The Dutchman, who met his unfortunate connected Facebook, travelled from Amsterdam to nan UK and raped nan woman astatine an reside successful Milton Keynes.

Van de Velde resumed his volleyball profession aft serving conscionable 12 months of his four-year condemnation and was selected successful June for nan Dutch Olympic squad for Paris.

While unwilling to specifically talk different team's selection, Meares says a convicted rapist would not beryllium selected for Australia.

"If an jock aliases unit personnel had that condemnation they would not beryllium allowed to beryllium a personnel of our team," Meares said.

"We person stringent policies connected safeguarding wrong our team."

Following his first action for Paris, nan Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) told BBC Sport: "After his release, Van de Velde sought and received master counselling. He demonstrated to those astir him - privately and professionally - self-insight and reflection."

The NOC says Van de Velde's return to nan athletics met guidelines group by nan Dutch Volleyball Federation (NeVoBo) successful nan organisation's "Guidelines Integrity Record", which sets retired conditions for athletes to resume competing aft conviction.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said nan action of athletes for nan Games was nan work of individual committees.

According to Dutch outlet NL Times,, external Van de Velde will not enactment successful nan athletes' colony and has alternatively been provided pinch replacement accommodation successful Paris.

Van de Velde's inclusion successful nan Games has been criticised by women's information groups.