AOC elections: Tracey Gaudry, new Hawthorn chief executive, abandons John Coates’ board ticket

TRACEY Gaudry ​has abandon​ed​ plans to stand for the Australian Olympic Committee board after being appointed as the Hawks’ chief executive.

Tracey Gaudry has been named as Hawks’ chief executive and will abandon plans to stand for the AOC board.

TRACEY Gaudry ​has abandon​ed​ plans to stand for the Australian Olympic Committee board after being appointed as the Hawks’ chief executive.

The dual Olympic cyclist was last month named on AOC president John Coates’ seven-person ticket for board positions.

Tracey Gaudry beat a select field to land the chief executive job with the Hawks.

The former cyclist’s withdrawal ​from the board race ​leave​s​ 10 contenders for seven positions on the AOC board as Coates fights to save his 27-year presidency.

Coates, 66, listed Kitty Chiller (modern pentathlon), Mark Arbib (athletics), Matt Allen (sailing), Craig Carracher (volleyball), David Hynes (softball/baseball) and Evelyn Halls (fencing) on his ticket.

He controversially omitted current board members Nicole Livingstone (swimming) and Danni Woodward (kayaking/canoeing).

He also overlooked Rechelle Hawkes (hockey) and Michael Murphy, who was nominated by Gymnastics Australia.

John Coates had named Gaudry on his seven-person ticket for board positions.

Gaudry beat a select field of candidates for the Hawthorn job, including former AOC chief executive Fiona de Jong.

De Jong last week tabled an explosive email at board level, detailing allegations of serial bullying at the AOC.

In her letter, de Jong speculated the release of her allegations - and sharp rebuttal of Coates’ claim the AOC does not have a bullying culture - would cost her professionally and personally.

The AOC elections will be held on Saturday.