Aussie accused of cheating in pentathlon

A British lawyer claims Australia invented and changed official scores to ensure Australian modern pentathlon competitor Angie Darby qualified for the Beijing Olympics.

The lawyer, Mike Townley, has demanded Darby lose selection immediately, according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Townley works for Greek athlete Donna Vakalis, whom he says should take Darby's place at next month's Games.

Townley has threatened the Australian Olympic Committee that he will take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where last month he successfully called for Australia's other modern pentathlete, Alex Parygin, to be removed from the Games.

The AOC has formally complained to IOC president Jacques Rogge, who is yet to reply.

"Angie is in the same sport as Alex," AOC director of sport Fiona De Jong told the newspaper.

"She was told she was going to Beijing and now this Olympic dream is being ripped off her through not honourable intentions."

In Parygin's case, the court ruled the Australian, who was affected by equine influenza restrictions, had not qualified because the official events in which he competed did not have enough international competitors.

It gave the vacant spot to Britain's Nick Woodbridge, who was represented by Townley in court.

Darby, 21, told the newspaper: "This is scary.

"...I have fulfilled the criteria twice. I am completely bamboozled.

"But it is really scary because Alex (Parygin) got ambushed and now he has got me in his sights."

The AOC has rejected the claims of scores being invented and changed as "nonsense", the newspaper says.

"If this guy wants a fight he is going to get one," De Jong said.