The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) on Wednesday issued a statement explaining the decision by its Managing Council to omit many-time national champion Simon Tomlinson from the team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games beginning on Thursday in Birmingham.

Tomlinson described the omission as a “personal attack” in an interview with Television Jamaica Sports on Tuesday.

“The managing council of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) categorically denies any allegations of a personal attack on Simon Tomlinson by the JTTA President, Mr. Andrew Lue, and refutes any defamatory reports that may suggest same,” the statement said.

The statement continues: “The decision to withdraw Mr. Tomlinson from the 2022 Commonwealth Games came as a result of his lack of preparation for the Commonwealth Games, his March withdrawal from the 2022 Caribbean Championships in Cuba and his non-participation in the recent National Championships and was made by the council in the interest of the sport of Table Tennis in Jamaica and the JTTA Managing Council stands by its decision.”