Lauren Ryan v Australian Athletics

Pursuant to the Australian Athletics Selection Policy (Policy), Lauren Ryan (the Athlete) disputed her non-selection to compete in the 5,000m event for Australia at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. On 31 August 2025, the matter was validated, and determined by the NST Member on 6 September 2025, with written reasons provided on 8 September 2025.

The NST Member considered submissions and evidence from the Athlete and Australian Athletics, an Interested Party under the Policy, and common law.

Under the Policy, the Athlete sought to make out the following appeal grounds:

1. that her omission from the Australian 2025 World Athletics Championships team was a result of the failure by the Australian Athletics Selection Committee (AASC) to properly apply the Selection Criteria set out in the Policy; and
2. that the AASC was affected by actual bias in making its decision not to select her.

The NST Member dismissed the appeal, finding that the AASC properly applied the relevant Selection Criteria, and that the Athlete failed to identify how the AASC acted with actual bias according to common law.

The NST Member noted that the AASC failed to record minutes of its meetings which determined the non-selection of the Athlete. As a timely reminder to sporting bodies, the NST Member explains the need for the recording of selection committee meeting minutes, to uphold integrity in the selection process, and any subsequent non-selection appeals.