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Eric Hollingsworth has made a statement slamming Sally Pearson on the eve of her Games 100m hurdles defence. Source: Getty Images
THE feud between Sally Pearson and Athletics Australia boss Eric Hollingsworth has escalated, with the head coach saying she was a bad example for the team.
In an extraordinary outburst just a day out from Pearson beginning her Commonwealth Games title defence, Hollingsworth has broken ranks and sprayed his best athlete.
Athletics Australia advised the head coach not to comment but instead he poured more fire on what was already a volatile situation and could be sacked with hours.
News Corp Australia revealed on Sunday that Hollingsworth and Pearson were no longer on speaking terms.
Pearson was fined for missing the team's camp, preferring to compete in London because she was desperate to have more racing as part of her comeback from injury.
Eric Hollingsworth has made a statement slamming Sally Pearson on the eve of her Games 100m hurdles defence. Source: Getty Images
In a statement released by a PR representative on behalf of Hollingsworth he said: "Sally was coming all along until the last minute when she opted to take a race in London.
"What's lost here is she's the team captain and there's a reasonable expectation she'd be in the camp ahead of something as major as the Commonwealth Games.
"Her no-show sets a bad example to the entire national team."
On the fiery exchange at this year's world indoor championships in Poland in March which sparked the fallout, Hollingsworth suggested Pearson, who had finished second at the event, couldn't handle some tough love.
"I asked legitimate questions of her after the race, and she didn't like the line I was taking. So via her agent she sought a meeting with Athletics Australia's president, CEO and High Performance Director, which I was not aware of until the day of, or day before the meeting," he said.
Sally Pearson starts the defence of her 100m hurdles title on Friday morning AEST. Source: Getty Images
"While I thought at the time it was curious that I wasn't involved in that process in any form, Sally raised her issues, and the powers-that-be found no problems with my actions, and there was no case to answer.
"Subsequently Sally dug her heels in, as is her right, and asked for what is a new 'athlete performance advisor' which is the conduit between the athletes and Athletics Australia.
"I am that person for the bulk of the high-performance athletes, but not all, from a workload point of view.
"So we reassigned Sally which is fine, we had a good working relationship for nearly a decade, but she decided my challenging style wasn't what she was looking for, which is her prerogative."
Sally Pearson starts the defence of her 100m hurdles title on Friday morning AEST. Source: Getty Images
He denied suggestions that the Olympic champion's medical support had been reduced for this campaign.
"We've had a team physio travelling with Sally for the past three months, following her around Europe," Hollingsworth said.
"Since May we've provided this service, and there may have been one day or so where there's been an overlap when we've changed over personnel. To say we've withdrawn support is factually incorrect and a little disappointing."
Hollingsworth's future will be decided in the coming hours after a meeting between chef de mission Steve Moneghetti and athletics team section head Nathan Sims.
Athletics Australia president David Grace, CEO Dallas O'Brien and high performance manager Simon Nathan are currently locked away deciding whether to sack the head coach.
Sims will then present the findings of that meeting to Moneghetti with the final decision to be made by the ACGA given they control everything to do with team personnel in Glasgow.
O'Brien released the following statement late on Wednesday (AEST): "Athletics Australia is aware of the statement issued by Eric Hollingsworth.
"This statement was not made on behalf of Athletics Australia but by Hollingsworth as an individual and in no way should it be read as the opinion of Athletics Australia.
"Given Hollingsworth's current role as a Head Coach of Athletics on the Australian Commonwealth Games Team, we will be meeting with the Australian Commonwealth Games Association urgently to formulate a strong response."
Hollingsworth is out of contract after the Glasgow games.
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