Volleyball player convicted of rape set for Olympics

A formation volleyball subordinate who was jailed for raping a 12-year-old British woman is group to correspond nan Netherlands astatine nan Paris Olympics.

Steven van de Velde, now 29, was sentenced to 4 years successful situation successful 2016 aft admitting 3 counts of rape against a child, which took spot successful August 2014.

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

He was allowed to service his condemnation successful nan Netherlands but was released aft conscionable 12 months.

Van de Velde subsequently resumed his volleyball profession and has competed successful world tournaments since 2018 "following an intensive, professionally supervised trajectory" nan Dutch Olympic Committee (NOC) said.

He has qualified for nan Olympics successful his nationalist brace pinch partner Matthew Immers.

The 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.

It says he has met "all qualification criteria for nan Olympic Games".

In interviews pinch Dutch media antecedently Van de Velde said: "I can't reverse it, truthful will person to carnivore nan consequences. It has been nan biggest correction of my life."

In a connection provided by nan NOC, Van de Velde said: "In 2016 and afterwards, respective Dutch media besides paid attraction to nan story. I understand that successful nan run-up to nan biggest sporting arena successful nan world, this tin pull nan attraction of world media."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), nan Dutch Volleyball Federation and nan International Volleyball Federation person been contacted for comment.