Under new rules imposed by the Australian Olympic Committee, athletes must declare any serious criminal charges or convictions or any conduct not in the best interests of the Team prior to being selected for future Olympics.

Previously athletes were only required to disclose information about conduct that brought themselves or their sport into disrepute.

Now prospective Team members are required to provide details of any serious offence involving alcohol or drugs, any sex offence, or any offence punishable by imprisonment.

Athletes chosen as members of the Shadow Team will be asked to sign a consent form allowing the AOC to check information relating to their background.

“Athletes will be asked to consent to the AOC making enquiries, which may include police checks” said AOC Director of Sport Fiona de Jong.

The Shadow Team is chosen about one year out from the Games.

“The AOC needs to put a ring around all the athletes in Olympic contention” de Jong said. “At all times they need to be conducting themselves in a manner appropriate to be a member of an Olympic Team.”

Under the Olympic Charter, the AOC is required to select athletes not only based on the sports performances but also on their “ability to serve as an example to the sporting youth of his country”.

The new rules have been developed following an extensive consultation process and have the support of the AOC Athletes' Commission.

An AOC Executive sub-committee will be formed to determine any matters dealing with athlete conduct in the lead up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Existence of a charge or conviction will not necessarily exclude an athlete from an Olympic Team.

“Each case will be considered on its merits” de Jong said. “The AOC has sole and absolute discretion and that discretion may be exercised to select an athlete who may have served a punishment and has demonstrated good behaviour. Similarly the existence of a charge for a serious offence may be sufficient to exclude an athlete from the Team.”

She said there were very few behavioural issues in Beijing.

“The Nick D’Arcy matter sent a strong message to other athletes to conduct themselves appropriately when selected to an Australian Olympic Team – both on and off the field”.

“It’s such an honour to be an Australian Olympian – in return the AOC expects athletes to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the Olympic values.”

AOC