Williams had expected to compete at the test event in the Brazilian city after finishing 59th in the artistic women’s individual qualification at last year’s World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow, 18 places ahead of compatriot Marissa Dick.

But the Caribbean country then revealed they had not decided on their representative for the event in Rio, which doubled as an Olympic qualifier.

Williams was eventually selected to compete, only to be withdrawn by the team hours beforehand due to apparent injury, with Dick selected as her replacement.

Dick went on to become the first gymnast from Trinidad and Tobago to book an Olympic spot when her selection was confirmed earlier this month - but Williams has fiercely contested the decision.

Her team claim she was not injured and, in a pre-action protocol letter published by the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, the athlete's attorney Keith Scotland accuses the TTGF of "unlawful interference with contractual rights".

“It is beyond dispute that her selection was based on her performance at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship in Glasgow, Scotland on October 23, 2015,” Scotland wrote.

“No other gymnast had such an entitlement.

"From that moment [Williams] could legitimately expect to be Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympian in gymnastics.

“The hasty, unfair and unconscionable withdrawal is compounded by the fact that you acted on speculation and/or an assumption that [Williams] was injured to the extent that she would not have been able to participate in the Rio test event as scheduled."

The TTGF claim the decision to withdraw Williams from the test event was made after an email from Williams’ coach, John Geddert, which said, among other things, that she was “nursing an injured ankle". 

Geddert subsequently claimed his words had been taken out of context with "malicious intent".

A medical check-up also allegedly cleared Williams of injury "within hours".

The TTGF have reportedly been given 10 days to pay the TT$11.3 million which, it is claimed, she would have received in sponsorship, endorsements and future career earnings from an Olympic appearance.

They are also asked to cover the cost of a scholarship to Michigan State University which Williams turned down to chase Olympic qualification.

High court action is expected to be taken if these payments are not made.