Dutch Olympian Steven van de Velde, who was convicted in 2016 of raping a 12-year-old girl in Britain, has been refused a visa to compete in the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Australia, the government said on Tuesday.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke suggested the 31-year-old’s criminal record was the reason he had been refused a visa to compete at the tournament, which starts in Adelaide on Nov. 14.

“The government will continue to use every tool we have available to ensure that Australians can be safe and feel safe in their communities,” Burke said in a statement.

Van de Velde said in a statement he had anticipated that Australian government policy and his criminal past could pose a problem in obtaining a visa.

“This outcome is not only accepted by me, but also by the rest

See Full Page