The Fiji Athletics Association has nominated, Leslie Copeland for the Sportsman of the Year Award in the FASANOC and Fiji Sports Council Awards night on the 2nd of next month.
Although 2011 was the year when Copeland qualified for the London Olympics, it was also a year when he was suspended for his drunk and disorderly behaviour during the Pacific Games.
It was earlier highlighted that Copeland got into a scuffle with athletes from other countries in New Caledonia.
He was drunk at the time.
He was also drunk when he left for Nadi from Noumea and had to be brought out in a wheelchair when they arrived in Fiji.
Athletics Fiji development coordinator Lars Hansen has confirmed that one of the key criteria that had Copeland edging Pacific Games Sprint King, Banuve Tabakaucoro for their nominee was the fact that he has qualified for the Olympic Games in London in July.
Athletics Fiji won only 4 gold medals in the Pacific Games with Copeland in the javelin while Tabakaucoro had 3 from the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 by 100 metres relay.
Hansen said Copeland has shown changes and is more committed to his career.
Other Athletics Fiji nominees are Paulini Korowaqa for the Sportswoman, James Goulding for Coach of the Year and Lars Hansen as the Volunteer of the Year.
The Fiji sports awards will be held on the 2nd of March.
Stay with us. We will have more on this later this afternoon.
Story by: Dreu Vukailagi
