Canada's Despatie withdraws from 3m Springboard

25 September 2000 Canadian Alexandre Despatie withdrew from competing in the 3m Springboard Diving on Monday. According to a Canadian diving team spokesperson the Commonwealth Games gold medallist for the 10m Platform has decided to focus his energies on that specialist discipline, which starts on Friday.

The 15-year-old was entered in the 3m Springboard as a substitute for ex-Cuban diver Arturo Miranda, who was been blocked from representing Canada by his former country.

Miranda was granted his Canadian citizenship 12 months ago. Under Section 46 of the Olympic Charter an athlete, who has changed his nationality less than three years before an Olympics, must be cleared by his country of origin before being able to compete under his new flag.

Jeff Liberty will still represent Canada in the 3m Springboard.

Diving, like swimming, has a two-per-nation rule for countries wishing to compete.