New Zealand's men have been invited to Rio 2016 following South Africa's rejection of a place ©Getty Images

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has invited New Zealand's men and Spain's women to Rio 2016 after an appeal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) designed to force South Africa to send its teams was rejected.

Both South African sides earned a place at the Games after winning their respective African Championships in November, but the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) insists on strict qualification criteria and believes that the continental route is not good enough.

Instead, both teams could only confirm their berths through the FIH's Hockey World League (HWL), something they were unable to do.

New Zealand and Spain, therefore, have profited as they were the highest placed teams from the HWL semi-finals who had not already qualified.

Tubby Reddy, chief executive of SASCOC, has defended his country's stance
Tubby Reddy, chief executive of SASCOC, has defended his country's stance ©Getty Images

The FIH appealed to the IOC on behalf of the South African Hockey Association, but were told by its Executive Board that under the terms of the Olympic Charter, all parties must respect the integrity and authority of their National Olympic Committee.

SASCOC, therefore, has the final say on what teams to send to Rio 2016 and the selection of athletes.

The country has also declined to send it's women's rugby sevens team, who won the African Olympic qualifier, as they did not advance through the World Rugby Seven Series.

In addition, doubts remain over the participation of the men's football team, who earned a spot by finishing third in the African Under-23 Championships.

It is thought they needed to win the tournament to meet SASCOC's criteria.

The absence of the hockey teams means that It will be the first Olympics since Barcelona in 1992 that the country will not be represented in either the men's or women's event.

South Africa's men are ranked 15th in the world, with the women 11th.

Tubby Reddy, chief executive of SASCOC, says that the organisation's stance is "in line with their policy of producing world-class athletes who will compete at the highest level".



Related stories
December 2015: South Africa turn down invitation to send women's rugby sevens team to Rio 2016
December 2015: Nigeria win 2015 African Under-23 Championships as South Africa earn Rio 2016 berth
November 2015: South Africa Hockey Association to seek alternative route to Rio 2016 after SASCOC deny them Olympic spot
November 2015: South Africa to turn down Rio 2016 qualification offers on back of FIH African Championships success
November 2015: South Africa claim men and women's double at FIH African Championships