The Papua New Guinea Athletics team won't be part of the Pacific Mini Games in the Cook Islands in September.

Team PNG Chef de Mission Stan Walker said their system for representation requires National Federations to meet simple requirements such as lodgment of data within stipulated deadlines and also justify each sports inclusion based on the potential to win medals, that is administered by an independent body, the "Justification Committee".

Walker said Papua New Guinea Athletics Union had previously met the inclusion criteria based on medal potential but failed to meet requirements of the Papua New Guinea PGA with lodgment of team names, training schedules and consequently were dropped from the overall team.

He said the Papua New Guinea Athletics Union asked the Board to reconsider its policy, the policy stands and the PNGAU did not appeal to the PNG Sports Disputes tribunal against the decision of the Justification Committee in upholding the Board's policy.