The Swiss-based body also said it had received an email from the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC) announcing a similar appeal.

The CTOC had been informed of "the requirements for the filing of an appeal at the CAS".

CAS' statement follows the Japanese Olympic Committee's (JOC) announcement on Monday (September 3) that it was to lodge an appeal over the IOC's decision to withdraw Japanese hammer-thrower Koji Murofushi from the Athletes' Commission election over alleged breaches of strict campaigning rules.

Murofushi and Chinese Taipei's Mu-yen Chu were disqualified from the election after both had polled enough votes to win seats on the commission.

Both athletes deny the allegations levelled against them.

CAS said it had "registered" the statement of appeal filed by Murofushi and the JOC against the IOC's August 11 decision.

Koji Murofushi, bronze medallist at this year's London Olympics, is requesting the IOC decision barring him from the Athletes' Commission be annulled

The appellants requested "the annulment of the IOC Executive Board's decision and an order that Mr Murofushi be reinstated as a candidate in the election and...that the votes registered for Mr Murofushi up to the close of voting on 8 August 2012 be considered valid, resulting in his election to the IOC Athletes' Commission".

In accordance with CAS rules, the appellants would have "the opportunity to file an appeal brief, then the IOC will be invited to file an answer and a hearing may take place at a later stage".

The Japanese move looks ever more likely to result in considerable delay to the confirmation as IOC members of the four athletes voted onto the commission as a result of the controversial election.

These were Danka Barteková from Slovakia, Australia's James Tomkins, Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry and Tony Estanguet from France.

It is a courageous step, given the status of the Japanese capital Tokyo as a candidate city to host the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

If the four elected athletes do, indeed, eventually become IOC members, then their votes next year would help to decide which of Tokyo, Madrid or Istanbul follows in Rio de Janeiro's footsteps as Summer Olympic and Paralympic hosts.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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