(From left) Cameron McEvoy, James Magnussen and Eamon Sullivan front a media pack. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Limited
THREE of the Australian men's relay team lied in the internal reviews about their Stilnox use. So why should we believe them now?
For six months the shamed swimmers - Eamon Sullivan, James Magnussen, Matt Targett, James Roberts, Cameron McEvoy and Tommaso D'Orsogna - no doubt hoped their behaviour would not become public knowledge.
When asked who admitted to Stilnox use during the internal reviews, only Sullivan and D'Orsogna raised their hands.
But yesterday Magnussen, Targett and McEvoy agreed they had consumed one tablet.
Rebecca Wilson: Swim heads have to roll
Roberts claims he never took the prescription sleeping tablet. Sullivan said all six swimmers had consumed the drug.
It is understood at least two of the swimmers were reluctant to front the media to confess, fearing the ramifications it may have on their personal endorsements.
Sullivan's troubled history revealed
According to the men involved, all they did was pop a Stilnox tablet, make a few calls and knock on doors before crawling into bed at 10.30pm.
Olympic silver medallist Emily Seebohm however said she was awoken at 11pm and asked "what are you wearing?" by one of the relay swimmers.
Who do we trust? Men under the influence of a drug, or a swimmer trying to get a good night's rest?
Coach supported despite inaction
Magnussen denied entering the room of Jade Neilsen, but the 21-year-old swimmer is adamant the three men that came to her room on the night were guilty of "inappropriate behaviour".
"We went and knocked on some doors. That was a childish prank. We didn't enter any rooms, we didn't converse with anyone," Magnussen said.
Weapons of Mass Dysfunction gallery
"If anyone was disturbed by it, I know Cameron and myself and James are sincerely sorry for interrupting anyone's sleep and if they felt like that affected their preparations, I'm deeply sorry."
Roberts, who banged on Neilsen's door wearing nothing but his underwear, said he'd apologised to the young woman and had regretted not being more honest when asked about the incident in multiple previous interviews.
The alleged "inappropriate behaviour" remains a serious concern for the Australian Olympic Committee.
'We're sorry' - read the full statement in here
The AOC engaged a Queen's Counsel to investigate the matter because they have greater powers, and they want total independence to ensure other athletes were not put in compromising positions while on the Olympic team.
"The appointment of a QC sends a signal from our perspective that we do take it seriously," AOC secretary general Craig Phillips said.
When asked if he thought some swimming officials were guilty of an attempted cover up, Mr Phillips said he hoped that would be investigated by swimming's own Integrity Panel. "I don't know, it's too early for me to judge that," he said.
No doubt, there is much truth yet to be fully revealed.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét