MELBOURNE :Netherlands beach volleyball player Steven van de Velde, a convicted rapist, has been denied a visa by Australia to compete at the world championships in Adelaide next month, the Dutch volleyball association (Nevobo) said.

Olympian Van de Velde was sentenced to four years in prison in Britain in 2016 after he was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl. He was 19 at the time of the offence.

Nevobo said both Van de Velde and his doubles partner Alexander Brouwer would not participate in the world championships, which start on November 14.

"Unfortunately, we have now been informed that the decision has been made not to grant the visa. We regret this, but we have no choice but to accept the decision," technical director Heleen Crielaard said in a statement.

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