Shooting-Diamond's Olympic dreams dashed as appeal against gun ban misses target

Two-time Olympic champion shooter Michael Diamond will not have a chance to represent Australia at this year's Paris Olympics after a New South Wales tribunal upheld a decision to reject his application for a firearm license.

Diamond, who won back-to-back trap gold medals at the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, had his firearms licence suspended in 2018 after being arrested in the wake of a domestic dispute with his brother in New South Wales ahead of the 2016 Rio Games.

Shooting Australia ruled him ineligible to compete in Rio and the 51-year-old also missed out on the Tokyo Olympics. He challenged the licence ban but it was upheld in January last year.

He then sought an administrative review of a decision to deny him a firearm licence in September. Earlier this month, the decision was upheld by a tribunal, which found that issuing Diamond a firearms licence would not be in the public interest.

In his appeal for a review, Diamond had stated that he needed a firearm licence "before Jan. 16, 2024 in order to compete at the Australian National Titles, the first selection competition for the (Paris) Olympic Games".

Diamond's appeal also contained a statement from former team mate Russell Mark, who won the double trap gold at Atlanta for Australia.

"I cannot name any instance where he has compromised his reputation by his actions," Mark said.

"I never witnessed him ever consumed by alcohol or act in an aggressive nature... Michael has only ever handled and used his firearms totally within the confines of the relevant firearms regulations."

Diamond competed at six Olympic Games between 1992-2012. He has also won five gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.