Courtesy of Fox Sports

April 07, 2009

Nick D'Arcy has been kicked off Australia's swim team for the World Championships in Rome.

Australian swimming officials have released a statement confirming the decision and explaining in detail why the butterflier has been removed from the team, despite qualifying at the recent Australian championships.

"On 22 March 2009, Nicholas D'Arcy was selected as a member of the Australian swim team for the 2009 FINA world championships," said a Swimming Australia statement.

"On 24 March 2009 and as a condition of membership on the Australian swim team, Nicholas D'Arcy agreed to be bound by the Swimming Australia Limited (Swimming Australia) Team By-Laws.

"Following Nicholas D'Arcy's conviction, the Board of Swimming Australia met on 6 April 2009 and unanimously resolved that Nicholas D'Arcy's membership of the Australian swim team to compete in Rome at the 2009 FINA world championships be terminated immediately under Swimming Australia Team By-Law 17.1.

"The resolution of the Board of Swimming Australia does not affect the investigation being undertaken by the Swimming Australia Judiciary Committee as to whether Nicholas D'Arcy has breached Swimming Australia's General By-Laws.

"Swimming Australia notes that the decision to exclude Nicholas D'Arcy from the 2008 Australian Olympic Team was made by the Australian Olympic Committee and not Swimming Australia."

Australian swim officials found it would be detrimental to the team if a member with a serious criminal history competed in the event, which begins in July.

The decision has the potential to split the Australian team because D'Arcy has support from several big-names, who believe he suffered sufficient punishment by being thrown out of the Olympic Games.

D’Arcy levelled former swimmer Simon Cowley with a punch during a boozy night of celebration following Australia’s national trials last year.

A judge handed D'Arcy a 14-month suspended jail sentence last month after he pleaded guilty to recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm.

D'Arcy says he was provoked by Cowley, with the court accepting his case of self-defence.

The Queenslander had qualified for the world titles after smashing the national record for the 200m butterfly during last month’s trials.