SALT LAKE CITY — A Seattle curler chose to play in the world championships in Switzerland and missed the Olympic qualifier in Duluth, Minn., where 32 teams vied for the final five Olympic Trials openings.

Now Jason Larway wants to be able to compete in next year’s Olympics, so his squad has filed a grievance with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Curling Association.

If his case reaches arbitration, a moderator could potentially toss out the last two years worth of national playoffs. The six teams now preparing for December’s Olympic Trials in Ogden could see their aspirations for a 2002 medal swept away.

Much of Larway team’s woes center on the fact that Canadian Greg Romaniuk was a member of the U.S. championship squad. Since Romaniuk lives in the United States, the team was eligible to play in the national tournament and the world championships.

USOC and USCA rules, however, do not allow a team with a non-citizen in the Olympics. Thus, Larway’s U.S. title did not secure him one of the five remaining berths at the Ogden trials. Had Larway won with an all-U.S. citizen squad, it would have earned a trials spot.

Following the U.S. Championships, the Larway squad entered the Washington State Regional Qualifier — without Romaniuk — in hopes of earning a ticket to the Ogden trials. That version of Team Larway won the March tournament.

The regional title qualified the team for the National Qualifier in Duluth, Minn. The qualifier, March 28-April 1, was scheduled for the same time as the world championships.

Rich Ruohonen, attorney for the Larway squad, argued that his clients should not have been forced to decide between the Olympics and the worlds.

“You can’t threaten or deny any amateur athlete the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games or the world championships,” Ruohonen said.

Larway’s team filed a grievance under Article IX of the USOC’s constitution. Article IX states that the USOC cannot deny any amateur athlete the chance to play in events including the Olympics, the Pan American Games or a world championship event.

USCA Executive Director David Garber said Larway was not denied from participating in the Olympic qualifier or the world championships. The team could simply not play in both tournaments.

The six trials-bound teams are: 2000 U.S. champion Craig Brown; Minnesota’s Scott Baird, Andy Borland and Tim Sommerville; and Wisconsin’s Paul Pustovar and Doug Pottinger.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A9.