Australian swimmer loses reinstatement appeal
Updated
The Court of Arbitration has upheld Nick D'Arcy removal from the Beijing Olympics swim team.
The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport has upheld the Australian Olympic Committee president's decision to remove Nick D'Arcy from the Australian swimming team for Beijing.
But the ruling has referred the final decision to the AOC.
AOC president John Coates withdrew D'Arcy's place on the Olympic team after the swimmer was charged with assault and it was deemed he'd brought the sport into disrepute.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport agreed with Mr Coates decision but has referred the final call on D'Arcy's inclusion in the team back to the committee.
The ruling stated that D'Arcy's involvement in an assault case was a breach of his his membership agreement in the Olympic team.
A statement from Mr Coates says the A-O-C will act as soon as possible to deal with the termination of D'Arcy's team membership.
D'Arcy says ruling unclear
However, Australian butterfly swimmer Nick D'Arcy believes he's still a member of the Olympic swimming team for the Beijing Games.
Our reporter Bruce Atkinson says D'Arcy claims the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport is not clear cut
He says the Court of Arbitration for Sport found D'Arcy only brought himself into disrepute and that Coates didn't have the right to act alone in sacking him.
D'Arcy says reports he has lost the appeal are incorrect.
"So I'm still currently a member of the australian olympic team and the overall decision will be made sometime next week. It will be left with the discretion of the AOC."
The full AOC Board hopes to meet within two weeks to decide whether to ratify Mr Coates's decision to terminate D'Arcy's place on the Olympic team.
