Fiji'S fate of participating at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi will be known by the end of March.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) last year ruled against Fiji's participation at the Delhi Games in October.
Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) president Vidhya Lakhan said they had lodged an appeal earlier this year with the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"We have opted to have three member panel rather than one person tribunal and in that we have nominated a QC from New Zealand as our representative," he said.
"The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) will be asked to nominate a representative and CAS itself will appoint a third member, who I suspect will be the chairperson."
Lakhan said the CGF had been given a month to respond to FASANOC's claims and hoped a decision would be made by March.
"Our appeal is based on the fact that in our view, the CGF has erred in the interpretation and application of its own constitution.
"The CGF constitution very clearly says the athletes of countries who are members of Common-wealth can take part in the Commonwealth Games.
"We have read in communiquÚs and press release from Commonwealth Secretariat and they have said whilst Fiji remains in the Commonwealth they cannot take part in the Commonwealth Games."
Lakhan said the Commonwealth Secret-ariat has confirmed that Fiji is still in the Commonwealth.
"Our argument is that if Fiji is still in the Commonwealth then in accordance with the CGF constitution our athletes should be allowed to take part in the Commonwealth Games."
Lakhan said the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly has not taken any decision on either to expel or suspend Fiji from the CGF.
"The only thing they are doing is taking the decision of the Commonwealth Secretariat and telling us we cannot take part.
"As far we know the CGF General Assembly has not voted on that (expel or suspend Fiji from the CGF).
"The ruling of CAS is final. If CAS says you can't take part in the Delhi Games then that's it.
"But if they agree with interpretation of the constitution then we are hoping the ruling will be that we can take part and we will."
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) last year ruled against Fiji's participation at the Delhi Games in October.
Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) president Vidhya Lakhan said they had lodged an appeal earlier this year with the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland.
"We have opted to have three member panel rather than one person tribunal and in that we have nominated a QC from New Zealand as our representative," he said.
"The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) will be asked to nominate a representative and CAS itself will appoint a third member, who I suspect will be the chairperson."
Lakhan said the CGF had been given a month to respond to FASANOC's claims and hoped a decision would be made by March.
"Our appeal is based on the fact that in our view, the CGF has erred in the interpretation and application of its own constitution.
"The CGF constitution very clearly says the athletes of countries who are members of Common-wealth can take part in the Commonwealth Games.
"We have read in communiquÚs and press release from Commonwealth Secretariat and they have said whilst Fiji remains in the Commonwealth they cannot take part in the Commonwealth Games."
Lakhan said the Commonwealth Secret-ariat has confirmed that Fiji is still in the Commonwealth.
"Our argument is that if Fiji is still in the Commonwealth then in accordance with the CGF constitution our athletes should be allowed to take part in the Commonwealth Games."
Lakhan said the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly has not taken any decision on either to expel or suspend Fiji from the CGF.
"The only thing they are doing is taking the decision of the Commonwealth Secretariat and telling us we cannot take part.
"As far we know the CGF General Assembly has not voted on that (expel or suspend Fiji from the CGF).
"The ruling of CAS is final. If CAS says you can't take part in the Delhi Games then that's it.
"But if they agree with interpretation of the constitution then we are hoping the ruling will be that we can take part and we will."
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