Paula radcliffe

The Dutch Olympic Committee: Paula Radcliffe, the former marathon world record-holder has apologised after defending the decision to allow Steven van de Velde, a convicted child rapist, to compete in the Paris Olympics.

Radcliffe's initial remarks, which appeared to extend support to van de Velde, have drawn widespread condemnation, prompting her to issue an apology and clarify her stance.

Steven van de Velde, a 29-year-old Dutch beach volleyball player, is set to represent the Netherlands at the Paris Olympics. His inclusion in the team has sparked outrage due to his criminal past. In 2016, van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison for raping a 12-year-old British girl when he was 19. Despite his conviction, the Dutch Olympic Committee and volleyball federation have allowed him to rehabilitate his career, leading to his current ranking of 11th in the world alongside his playing partner, Matthew Immers.