Synchro Canada changed the method used in its selection process during an appeal by one swimmer to allow her back on the Olympic team.
An investigation by CBC radio reporter Teddy Katz discovered outrage among a few swimmers who didn't make the team, despite getting some of the highest scores in qualifying.
In an e-mail sent to the Canadian athletes and obtained by CBC, team official Diane Oligny said she and the coaches all agreed the scores didn't give them the right results, so they awarded a few arbitrary bonus points to swimmers who they felt should make the team.
Those bonus marks were never part of the selection criteria, Katz reports.
CBC received a copy of one of the appeals in which Synchro Canada admitted the athletes had raised legitimate issues.
Synchro Canada eventually threw out the bonus marks and readjusted some of the methods they used to originally rank the athletes. The appeal allowed one of the swimmers to move from 12th spot to ninth, effectively placing her on the team as an alternate.
Another swimmer is waiting for her appeal to be heard next week.
Lawyers for Synchro Canada advised the CBC in a letter that neither the organization nor its athletes will comment further on the matter until the completion of the appeals process.
Oligny argued in the appeal that the coaches had the discretion to change scores, but admitted her e-mail left the impression there was manipulation that was taking place.
Oligny e-mailed athletes explaining the choices and why some with the highest scorers over a period of time did not make the team.
These actions angered many in the synchro community who have been passing on copies of the e-mail.
Courtenay Stewart, a member of Canada's Olympic team in Athens who is now studying at Stanford University, said some athletes were cheated.
"It is basically a lifetime goal that is being taken away from them so unfairly," she said. "It says it's not your ability, it's not all these things that we say the Olympics is all about. It's about, in this case unfortunately, cheating."