Vancouver, BC (My Sportsbook) - A group of 15 women ski jumpers lost their case Friday in an attempt to include the sport for females at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Justice Lauri Ann Fenlon of the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled against the women, who had sued the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, saying they wanted competition for both men and women or none at all.

The court hearing took place in April, but Fenlon noted that while the competition is discriminatory in that it allows only men to compete, she said VANOC didn't breach the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Many of the men the plaintiffs have trained with and competed against as peers will be Olympians; the plaintiffs will be denied this opportunity for no reason other than their sex," Fenlon wrote in her ruling. "But not every act of discrimination is a breach of the Charter. For the reasons that follow, I find that VANOC is not in breach of the Charter. I am, therefore, unable to grant the declaration the plaintiffs seek."

Fenlon also wrote only the International Olympic Committee has the power to include women's ski jumping at the Games.

"While we are pleased that the Games can now proceed as planned, we strongly disagree with the court's analysis that the IOC acted in a discriminatory manner," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement. "As previously explained, our decision was based on technical issues, without regard to gender.

"The IOC will continue to follow the development of women's ski jumping and remains open to considering its possible inclusion in the Sochi Games in 2014. We understand and appreciate how important inclusion is to the dedicated athletes who participate in the sport."

Women compete in approximately 48 percent of the events at the Winter Olympics and the percentage of female athletes has steadily increased to just over 40 percent.

"While this has been a difficult and challenging process for all involved, the ruling today means that we can continue on with our preparations for the 2010 sport program as set out by the International Olympic Committee, including a men's ski jumping event," VANOC CEO John Furlong said in a statement. "We appreciate Justice Fenlon's careful consideration of the very complex issues."