Australia's reputation intact says coach

Australian swimming's reputation is still intact, despite controversy surrounding dumped swimmer Nick D'Arcy, the Olympic team's head coach said.

D'Arcy was dropped from the Beijing team last week by the Australian Olympic Committee for bringing the team and sport into disrepute after being charged with assault.

The 20-year-old butterfly specialist has already said he would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"I've got to say that I think swimming's reputation is still impeccable," Australia head coach Alan Thompson told reporters in Canberra.

"I think sometimes these aberrations do affect things for a while but I think when people look through the issues that have occurred over the last couple of weeks, I think they still see these young people who are going to go to the Olympic Games in Beijing and perform very well for our country."

The Australian squad have assembled for a training camp in Canberra and Thompson said the D'Arcy case had been discussed in team meetings.

"There is no point sweeping an issue like this under the carpet, it needs to be discussed," he said.

D'Arcy appeared in a Sydney court on Monday and had one of the charges against him withdrawn.

He has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm stemming from an incident in a Sydney nightclub in which Commonwealth swimming champion Simon Cowley was punched.

D'Arcy is scheduled to re-appear on June 17.