Australia kicks D'Arcy off Beijing swim team

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) voted unanimously yesterday to suspend swimmer Nick D'Arcy from the team for Beijing.

The AOC executive board backed the original decision by AOC president John Coates that D'Arcy had brought the sport into disrepute after he was charged over an alleged assault in March.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ordered the AOC to re-open the case because they had not followed correct procedures when banning him from this year's Olympics, but they reached the same decision.

"To terminate the membership of an athlete from the Australian Olympic team is a very serious matter," AOC vice-president Ron Harvey told reporters.

"After careful consideration we have reached a decision based on that responsibility."

D'Arcy, who had argued he was a fit and proper person to represent Australia at Beijing, said the matter was not finished.

"I will appeal, it is already in the works," he said.

D'Arcy was initially thrown off the team in April because of his alleged involvement in a brawl at a Sydney nightclub that left former Commonwealth Games champion Simon Cowley with serious facial injuries.

D'Arcy, a university student, had been celebrating his inclusion in the team for Beijing when a fight broke out.