| abstract | - SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Swimmer Nick D'Arcy was charged Monday with assault following a nightclub altercation several hours after being named to Australia's Olympic team for Beijing. Without naming D'Arcy, police said in a statement that a 20-year-old Queensland man had been arrested, interviewed and charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on April 21. Swimming Australia has confirmed that D'Arcy, a 20-year-old butterfly swimmer who set a Commonwealth record during the eight-day Olympic trials that ended Saturday, had been involved in a nightclub incident on the weekend. Simon Cowley, a three-time swimming gold medalist at 1998 Commonwealth Games, suffered facial injuries, including a broken jaw and broken nose, in the altercation. D'Arcy, who withdrew from the Australian team to contest the short course world championships in England, will also have his case investigated by the Australian Olympic Committee. AOC president John Coates said Monday that following discussions with Swimming Australia chief Glenn Tasker and head coach Alan Thompson, the AOC and Swimming Australia would jointly investigate the incident. Coates said the investigation, which was announced before D'Arcy was charged, would include interviews with the swimmer and Cowley.
|
