Netherlands beach volleyball player and convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde has been banned from entering Australia for the looming world titles.
Van de Velde had been named in a Dutch team to contest the world championships in Adelaide starting on 14 November, but the Australian government rejected his visa application.
“The government will continue to use every tool we have available to ensure that Australians can be safe and feel safe in their communities,” Tony Burke, the minister for home affairs, said.
In 2016, the Dutchman was sentenced to four years in jail after pleading guilty to three counts of raping a 12-year-old British girl he initially met on social media.
The offences took place in August 2014, when Van de Velde was aged 19.
Van de Velde served 13 months of his sentence and resumed his volleyball career in 2018.
Volleyball Australia chief executive Andrew Dee was told of the government’s decision on Tuesday morning.
“As local organising committee, our focus remains on ensuring we deliver a spectacular world championships,” Dee said.
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“It will be the biggest beach volleyball event in the world this year and the first time we will have nine Aussie teams proudly wearing the green and gold. That is what we all should now focus on and celebrate.”
Last year, Van de Velde competed at the Olympics, when he was jeered by spectators. He and teammate Matthew Immers lost a quarter-final in Paris.
