Statement by Australian Olympic Committee Secretary-General Craig Phillips

During today’s media conference, members of the 2012 Australian Olympic Team admitted to using Stilnox.

The AOC banned the use of hypnotic drugs including Stilnox on the 3rd of July last year, over three weeks before the start of the London Games.

The ban was imposed after Grant Hackett alerted us to the dangers of using Stilnox. The effects of Stilnox on Grant were alarming and we imposed a ban to protect the health of our athletes.

All members of our 2012 Team were well aware of the ban imposed.

The AOC will consider what action it will take in the light of these admissions. 

Possible sanctions for a breach of the Team Agreement might include withdrawing funding from the athletes concerned.

Under our Medal Incentive Funding (MIF) James Magnussen has received $10,000 for his silver medal in the men’s 100 metres freestyle.

Matt Targett and Tommaso D’Orsogna also earned $7,500 for their part in the bronze medal relay.

The sanctions could extend to withdrawing funding won in the lead up to the Rio Olympics in 2016 in World Championship, World Cup, Pan Pacs or events of similar standing.

Today’s media conference also included details of “inappropriate behaviour” towards two female members of the Australian Olympic Team at the pre-Games camp in Manchester.

This type of behaviour could also be in breach of the Ethical Behaviour By-Law of our Team Agreement.

We support Swimming Australia’s decision to establish an Integrity Panel to investigate allegations of drunkenness, misuse of prescription drugs, bullying and other breaches of Swimming Australia’s Team Agreement. We await the outcome of the Integrity Panel’s review findings.

As a result of the revelations this week arising from the swimming reviews the AOC has decided to engage a Queens Counsel (QC) to investigate these incidents further.

We would fully expect that the athletes will give their total cooperation to any investigation we mount.

AOC