OLYMPIC champion Tessa Sanderson believes she should be given back her vote in the decision over whether West Ham United or Spurs take over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games.

OLYMPIC champion Tessa Sanderson believes she should be given back her vote in the decision over whether West Ham United or Spurs take over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games.

Ms Sanderson says she has no conflict of interest and that the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), of which she is a board member, should allow her to vote.

The gold medallist was told earlier this week by the OPLC’s chief executive, Andrew Altman, that she would be excluded from the vote due to a conflict of interest because of her personal consultancy contract with Newham Council, who are West Ham’s partners.

“I want to be back on there making the decision,” she said. She is the founder and head of the Newham Sports Academy(NSA), which is funded by the council, but she is not a director.

She said: “I have absolutely no conflict of interest. As a local resident and former Olympic gold medallist I believe I am ideally placed to contribute to deciding what is the best long future for the site and I remain objective and open-minded to the two proposals which I believe the board will receive over the coming days.

“My involvement with Newham Council has been well-documented in the Recorder and national media over the last four years and clearly is in the public domain. You only have to look at my own entry on the OPLC website to see my ongoing involvement.

“I have been a member of the OPLC board since its inception and have always been up front and honest about my involvement with the NSA, never knowingly hiding or not disclosing any relevant information or interests, and was recently even asked to provide a written brief on the NSA initiative for the OPLC chairman, Baroness Margaret Ford, for the House of Lords.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I am absolutely committed, passionate and determined to secure a proper and sustainable Olympic Legacy for East London for future generations.”

. She said: “I have asked the OPLC chief executive to provide me with a full written explanation on his decision and despite my repeated requests this has not been forthcoming. Once I have received this I will consider my position since my integrity and reputation have been called into question.”