By Zjan Shirinian

Sarsfield missed out on competing at Vancouver 2010 due to injury ©Getty ImagesJanuary 25  - "Devastated" British skier Emily Sarsfield has been forced to drop her legal fight against her omission from the team selected to go to the Sochi Olympics.

Her legal representative said taking the British Olympic Associaiton (BOA) to the High Court "has the potential to be financially crippling".

She is still hoping for a last-minute reprieve, with a petition calling for the BOA to select her reaching more than 4,000 signatures.

Sarsfield was controversially left out of the 56-strong Team GB squad named for Sochi earlier this week, after British Ski and Snowboard (BSS) recommended she be excluded as she did not meet the qualification criteria.

To be eligible for selection, she had to obtain three top-24 finishes in International Ski Federation (FIS) events during the current Olympic cycle and finish inside the top-32 of the FIS world rankings.

While the 30-year-old achieved the requisite top-24 finishes, she finished 34th on the world rankings.

Emily Sarsfield is threatening legal action after being left out of the final Team GB squad for Sochi 2014 ©Getty ImagesEmily Sarsfield has dropped her threat of legal action after being left out of the final Team GB squad for Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images



But, through a combination of injuries to other qualified skiers, retirements and per-nation quota limits, Sarsfield was eligible for a place at the Games.

She was left out in the cold though because of a prior agreement between the BOA and the BSS, with both organisations insisting they cannot accept "hand-backs" or "re-allocations" under the criteria agreed.

Sarsfield, who is the British ski cross number one, took to Twitter to vent her anger at the decision.

She wrote: "I am devastated I won't get the opportunity to represent GB in Sochi and will have to watch five or so other athletes ranked lower than me in the world competing instead of me in Sochi just because I'm British.

"That's hard to take but I'm a dedicated and committed athlete and a fighter so I will come back stronger... thanks again for all the support! X"

The BOA  told insidethegames earlier this week the decision to omit Sarsfield, who missed the Vancouver 2010 Olympics through injury, will stand.

Emily Sarsfield (left) achieved three top-24 finishes during the Olympic cycle including 17th at the World Championships ©AFP/Getty ImagesEmily Sarsfield (left) achieved three top-24 finishes during the Olympic cycle including 17th at the World Championships ©AFP/Getty Images



"In the case of British Ski and Snowboard, the selection criteria specifically stated that 'hand-back' or 'unallocated quota places', as they are commonly referred to, as awarded by their International Federation would not substitute for an athlete earning an automatic quota place," said a spokesperson.

"With respect to Emily Sarsfield, she did not secure an automatic quota place as determined by the International Federation.

"The agreement between the BOA and BSS does not allow for the acceptance of 'hand-back' places.

"All British Ski and Snowboard athletes would have been aware of this position.

"The Olympic Qualification Standards are purposely high.

"Given the investment that has gone into winter sport in the UK, it is expected that every athlete who ultimately competes for Team GB is in a position to deliver a credible performance at the Games.

"We are deeply disappointed for Emily.

"Throughout her athletic career, she has displayed remarkable tenacity and dedication, and we wish her the very best for continued success."

Team GB has named a record 19 athletes to its skiing and snowboarding squad for Sochi 2014, which begins on February 7.

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