Three Northern Ireland gymnasts including Rhys McClenaghan have been told they will not be allowed to compete at this summer's Commonwealth Games.
A ruling from the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has determined that McClenaghan, Eamon Montgomery and Ewan McAteer cannot represent Northern Ireland in Birmingham.
Commonwealth Games NI says it will challenge the decision which it described as "incomprehensible".
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The body - which was notified on Thursday - said the ruling had been made because the gymnasts represent Ireland in FIG events.
Co Down star McClenaghan was set to defend his Pommel Horse title after he won Northern Ireland's only gold at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast, where Lisburn's McAteer also competed.
In a statement, Commonwealth Games NI said: "Our immediate concern is the wellbeing of the three athletes and their coaches.
"Appropriate support is being offered while we collectively agree a course of action to challenge this ruling. It should be noted that both Rhys and Ewan competed for Northern Ireland at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, with Rhys winning a Gold medal on Pommel.
"All three athletes were born in Northern Ireland, and have parents born in Northern Ireland, but yet they have been told that they are ineligible to compete for Northern Ireland. This is apparently because they compete routinely for Ireland at FIG tournaments. Northern Ireland does not take part in such tournaments.
"Historically, TeamNI at all Commonwealth Games has included athletes across a range of sports who have chosen to represent either IRL or GBR at European Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games. We even have athletes within the same sport who have chosen different international performance pathways.
"This has always been respected and adds to the inclusive nature of TeamNI at Commonwealth Games. The FIG appear to have completely disregarded the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the unique situation pertaining to Northern Ireland. They are out of step with all of our other member sports.
"Commonwealth Games NI will continue to support our athletes, and we are determined that they will represent Northern Ireland at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
"We hope to see the FIG reconsider their position to make this so."
Meanwhile, Sport NI has given its full backing to Montgomery, McAteer and McClenaghan and Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland.
Chief Executive Antoinette McKeown said: “Northern Ireland is a place of complex identities, and the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement sought to balance these delicate relationships by affording people the greatest possible choice to be British, Irish, Northern Irish, and any or all of the above.
"In the past decade Sport NI has worked with partners to ensure sport shows equal flexibility to accommodate and afford our local athletes the widest possible opportunity to compete.
“At international level, most competitions see our local athletes choose to compete for either Team Great Britain, or Team Ireland.
"The Commonwealth Games is a welcome opportunity for Northern Ireland athletes, whatever their community background or political opinion, to represent their region, and we have a proud history of them doing so.
"The ruling by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) does not respect the unique circumstances or complexity of identity within Northern Ireland, and we fully support the Commonwealth Games NI in its efforts to have this decision overturned.
“We will also be using our relationships with colleagues in Great Britain to ensure the wider sporting community recognises this decision serves the interests of no-one.”
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