ID :
52578
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 06:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/52578
The shortlink copeid
Olympic boss warns D'Arcy on behaviour
Recording fast times will not be enough to assure Nick D'Arcy's future in top-level
swimming.
The Australian Olympic Committee made it clear D'Arcy will have to "achieve and
maintain" high standards of behaviour before he can be selected for the 2012 London
Olympics.
D'Arcy, 21, received a 14-month suspended jail sentence on Friday for assaulting
former swimmer Simon Cowley in a Sydney bar last March while celebrating his
selection in Australia's Beijing Olympics team.
The AOC dumped him from that team after he was charged with recklessly causing
grievous bodily harm, to which he later pleaded guilty.
D'Arcy broke his own Australian 200m butterfly record at the recent national titles,
a performance good enough to win a berth in the Australian team to contest the world
titles in Rome in July.
But Swimming Australia's judiciary will investigate his case before selection can be
confirmed.
This means both the Olympic and swimming bodies regard his behaviour outside the
pool as important as performances in it.
Swimming Australia has not declared its hand in the way the AOC did because it
received differing legal advice at the time D'Arcy hit Cowley.
The AOC was told being charged by police was enough to bring the sport into
disrepute; SA was told to wait until the outcome of the court case before taking any
action.
The AOC had no direct comment on D'Arcy's suspended jail sentence, but said it was
in no doubt it had made the correct decision in axing him from the Beijing Games.
In order to make the 2012 Olympics, he must not only qualify in the pool but also
meet behavioural standards set out in the team agreement.
"The agreement stipulates that an athlete's conduct must not be inconsistent with
the best interest, image or values of the AOC," AOC President John Coates said in a
statement.
"We owe it to past Olympians to maintain the high standards and reputation they have
established over many years.
"Olympians are role models for young children, they are ambassadors for their
country and Nick D'Arcy would need to convince the AOC selection committee he could
achieve and maintain these standards before he would be included on the 2012
Australian Olympic team."
swimming.
The Australian Olympic Committee made it clear D'Arcy will have to "achieve and
maintain" high standards of behaviour before he can be selected for the 2012 London
Olympics.
D'Arcy, 21, received a 14-month suspended jail sentence on Friday for assaulting
former swimmer Simon Cowley in a Sydney bar last March while celebrating his
selection in Australia's Beijing Olympics team.
The AOC dumped him from that team after he was charged with recklessly causing
grievous bodily harm, to which he later pleaded guilty.
D'Arcy broke his own Australian 200m butterfly record at the recent national titles,
a performance good enough to win a berth in the Australian team to contest the world
titles in Rome in July.
But Swimming Australia's judiciary will investigate his case before selection can be
confirmed.
This means both the Olympic and swimming bodies regard his behaviour outside the
pool as important as performances in it.
Swimming Australia has not declared its hand in the way the AOC did because it
received differing legal advice at the time D'Arcy hit Cowley.
The AOC was told being charged by police was enough to bring the sport into
disrepute; SA was told to wait until the outcome of the court case before taking any
action.
The AOC had no direct comment on D'Arcy's suspended jail sentence, but said it was
in no doubt it had made the correct decision in axing him from the Beijing Games.
In order to make the 2012 Olympics, he must not only qualify in the pool but also
meet behavioural standards set out in the team agreement.
"The agreement stipulates that an athlete's conduct must not be inconsistent with
the best interest, image or values of the AOC," AOC President John Coates said in a
statement.
"We owe it to past Olympians to maintain the high standards and reputation they have
established over many years.
"Olympians are role models for young children, they are ambassadors for their
country and Nick D'Arcy would need to convince the AOC selection committee he could
achieve and maintain these standards before he would be included on the 2012
Australian Olympic team."
