USA Diving wins arbitration dispute

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Laura Wilkinson and diving partner Jessica Livingston on Friday lost an arbitration hearing to overturn USA Diving’s decision not to have the pair compete in synchronized platform at the Beijing Olympics.

Wilkinson, the 2000 Olympic platform champion, and Livingston filed an appeal of the decision by USA Diving with the American Arbitration Assn.

USA Diving, in a prepared statement, said that the arbitrator, ‘in a strong ruling ... held in favor of USA Diving and its selection of Mary Beth Dunnichay and Haley Ishimatsu as the USA’s women’s synchronized 10-meter team for the 2008 Olympic Games.’

USA Diving Chief Executive Debbie Hesse said in a statement that the organization’s selection procedures were ‘reviewed in great detail by our organization and the United States Olympic Committee, and after a thorough review were approved by both organizations.’

‘USA Diving has a strong and long history of Olympic success and supporting athletes’ rights,’ Hesse said. ‘We hope our athletes and coaches can move past this and form a strongly-bonded team at the Olympic Games.’

Wilkinson, 30, will compete in the individual 10-meter platform competition at next month’s Olympics.

-- Greg Johnson