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Olympic officials likely to forgive Anna Flanagan for drink-drive saga but her Rio hopes remain cloudy

HOCKEYROOS star Anna Flanagan is likely to be forgiven by Olympic officials for her drink driving escapade but her Rio hopes remain under serious threat.

Anna Flanagan faces a new battle to make the Olympics team. Pictures: Red Bull
Anna Flanagan faces a new battle to make the Olympics team. Pictures: Red Bull

HOCKEY poster girl Anna Flanagan is likely to be forgiven by Olympic officials for her drink driving escapade but her Rio hopes remain under serious threat.

Flanagan has responded to a “please explain’’ from Australia’s Olympic officials over the reasons behind her drink driving offence in March when she had a blood alcohol reading of more than three times the legal limit.

Flanagan had her licence suspended and was fined $1000 but she failed to advise Hockey Australia of the matter after taking legal advice that it was unlikely to surface in the public arena.

Anna Flanagan faces a new battle to make the Olympics team. Pictures: Red Bull
Anna Flanagan faces a new battle to make the Olympics team. Pictures: Red Bull

It is understood the AOC is likely to rubber stamp her selection for Rio given her previous good behaviour, remorse over the incident and the fact she was given legal advice that the matter could be kept private.

But experienced defender Flanagan’s greatest challenge will be making the 15-player squad.

Although she was world junior player of the year in 2012 and Australia’s player of the 2014 World Cup, her two tournament absence due to a ban by Hockey Australia in the lead-up to Rio has allowed other players to jostle for her spot.

She has slipped back to being a borderline selection whose hopes may rest on the form of others.

Australia lost the International Hockey Open final to New Zealand in Darwin on the weekend but the Hockeyroos played solidly in the tournament.

Kirsten Dwyer will take Flanagan’s place for this months Champions Trophy tournament in London next week and a strong showing by the Hockeyroos defence would be a severe setback to Flanagan’s Rio hopes.

Flanagan’s high profile includes a deal with Red Bull but Hockeyroos coach Adam Commens has a history of not being swayed by marketing appeal, having dropped the glamorous Kate Hollywood before the last Olympics.

“I don’t think it’s ideal for any player to be missing the two preparation tournaments in the lead-up to Rio,” Commens said after news of Flanagan’s charge broke.

“We have a highly experienced and talented back line.

“If they perform well in these tournaments, that’ll make the task of Anna getting back in the team that little bit more difficult.’’

Originally published as Olympic officials likely to forgive Anna Flanagan for drink-drive saga but her Rio hopes remain cloudy

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/olympic-officials-likely-to-forgive-anna-flanagan-for-drinkdrive-saga-but-her-rio-hopes-remain-cloudy/news-story/3508d4ccb64268ee396dfea57f869dcf