National champion Suzu Chiba on Monday made her first public comments about the decision of the Japan Amateur Swimming Federation to leave her off the national team for the Sydney Olympics in September.
Speaking to reporters at a Tokyo hotel, Chiba said her reasons for appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sports last month stem from a "lack of transparency" in the JASF selection policy.
Chiba also said the JASF owes her a "logical explanation" after the Canadian-based swimmer won the women's 200-meter freestyle at the national championships in April with a time of 2 minutes, 0.54 second, beating the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:01.02.
"I just want the JASF to clear this mess up as quickly as possible. Any swimmer who clears the Olympic standard should automatically be selected," said Chiba.
Chiba claimed the JASF decision "has nothing to do with swimming," adding: "I might not conform to their ideal image, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't select me."
Sports commentators have suggested that Chiba is too outspoken and is unpopular with Japanese swimming officials because of her decision to train in Canada under American coach Bud McAllister.
But Chiba gave suggestions that she would be bad for team morale short shrift.
"Where on earth does that come from? I don't think it's a good idea for them to say stuff like that," she said.