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The AOC has condemned an online petition attacking Australian breakdancer Rachael "Raygun" Gunn, saying it amounted to "bullying and harassment".
Raygun competed in the women's breaking competition in Paris, winning zero judges votes in her three bouts, drawing negative commentary.
The AOC says it has written to change.org demanding the immediate removal of the petition.
The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has called for the removal of an anonymous online petition attacking Paris Olympics breaking competitor Raygun, calling it vexatious, misleading and bullying.
Raygun, the breaking name of Australian academic and B-Girl Rachael Gunn, took part in the competition in Paris, losing all three of her bouts without winning a single vote from judges.
Footage of her moves in the competition went viral, drawing negative attention and suggestions she was mocking or satirising the sport.
The AOC released a statement on Thursday condemning the petition on website change.org which was put online on Monday.
The petition, addressed to the AOC and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, calls for "immediate accountability and transparency" over the actions of Ms Gunn and Australian team chef de mission Anna Meares in the selection process for Paris.
The petition suggests that other talented breakdancers were unfairly overlooked.
Among other demands, the petition calls for a full investigation into the selection process.
As of Thursday afternoon, the online petition had gathered 47,166 signatures.
Chief executive Matt Carroll said the AOC had written to change.org demanding the petition be immediately withdrawn.
Mr Carroll said the petition contained "numerous falsehoods designed to engender hatred against an athlete who was selected in the Australian Olympic Team through a transparent and independent qualification event and nomination process".
"The Australian team chef de mission played no role in the qualification events nor the nomination of athletes to the AOC selection committee, of which the chef and I are members," Mr Carroll said.
"It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way. It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory. We are demanding that it be removed from the site immediately.
"The petition has stirred up public hatred without any factual basis. It's appalling.
"No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympic Games should be treated in this way and we are supporting Dr Gunn and Anna Meares at this time."
The AOC added information within its release, which it described as "lay(ing) out the following facts", including:
- That the Oceania Qualifying Event was held in Sydney in October 2023 under the Olympic qualification system determined by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) as approved by the IOC.
- That the judging panel was made up of nine independent judges.
- The event was conducted by AUSBreaking under the auspices of Dance Sport Australia and the WDSF, with athletes from four countries — Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
"Dr Rachael Gunn in winning the Oceania Breaking Championship in October 2023 was legitimately nominated by DanceSport Australia to the AOC for selection in the Australian Olympic team", the AOC said.
"Dr Gunn has no responsibility for any funding decisions in her sport."
In a subsequent interview with ABC Radio, Mr Carroll said the AOC would consider taking legal action if change.org did not remove the petition.
The AOC said that Ms Meares had no involvement in the qualifying event or nomination of athletes.
The statement referred to Dr Gunn's husband Samuel Free, who the AOC said was a coach who "holds no position with AUSBreaking or DanceSport Australia in any capacity and was not a judge at the event".
The AOC also said that DanceSport Australia and athletes received no federal government funding, and the Australian Olympic team for Paris was fully funded by the AOC with no federal taxpayers' funds involved.