14 December 2019

Team GB Commonwealth finalist Alexandra Bell slams British Athletics for not believing in her after rejecting funding appeal

British athlete Alexandra Bell has shared her disgust at having her appeal for Olympic funding rejected.

The 27-year-old 800m runner from Leeds ran a personal best in 2019, qualified for the Doha World Championships semi-finals and won her event at the USA v Europe match but was denied funding for 2020.

She appealed but lost her case and revealed she was denied access to the minutes of the meeting. She said the process was unfair and blamed British Athletics' head of endurance, Barry Fudge.

In a post on twitter she wrote: "Thanks again British Athletics for not believing in me for this very important year ahead.

"The only one who hits the criteria yet again and missed another one of Barry Fudge's list..SHOCK.

"Let's keep it simple, for as long as he's in this organisation I'm just never going to get a chance," she added.

She had some advice for anyone else who has suffered setbacks adding: "Be sure to back yourself 100 per cent day in day out and don't expect anything from anybody."

Finishing her post she wrote: "Thank you to the special ones in my life who have helped me on my journey so far, you know who you are.

"In the meantime...I do my hair toss, check my nails."

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