Kieren Perkins, Olympic Champion, says the Australian Olympic Committee has no choice but to expel Nick D’Arcy from the Beijing team after serious assault charges were laid against him.
The swimming fraternity was last night divided on D’Arcy’s fate after he was involved in a brawl at a Sydney bar that left former national team member Simon Cowley with a shattered nose, eye socket and jaw.

New South Wales Police yesterday hit D’Arcy, 20, with assault and grievous bodily harm charges.

Swimming great Perkins said the alleged behaviour was unacceptable.

“It’s a tough call and I feel for Nick but I can’t see how the consequences won’t be dire considering the circumstances,” Perkins said.

“It’s a terrible shame and I was so proud of this Australian team and to have one individual in a stupid moment is so sad.

“How many businesses would employ someone who’d do that to someone, it’s totally unacceptable behaviour.”

But Olympic legend Dawn Fraser, who was caught up in an Olympic flag controversy at the 1964 Tokyo Games, said D’Arcy should be allowed to compete.

“If they do find him guilty, I hope they allow him to go away with the Olympic team and then deal with the fact when they get back after Beijing,” Fraser said.

“I feel sorry for him. He’ll be known as the brawler as I was known as the flag catcher.”

Fraser, however, said D’Arcy had a duty of responsibility as a role model in the sport.

“I was actually shocked when I heard the news,” Fraser said. “It shouldn’t happen, because these guys are an inspiration to all the younger generation of this country and we don’t want them like footballers, going out and boozing up.”

Australian swimming captain Grant Hackett said missing a Games would be “the ultimate punishment” for D’Arcy, who was named as one of 26 Olympic rookies for Beijing at the weekend.

“It’s four years between Olympics, eight years of hard work if you miss out,” he told Channel 7.

Olympic backstroker and respected TV commentator Nicole Livingstone said D’Arcy should be given another chance, but with provisos.

“I still think people make mistakes and if he misses out on the Olympic team I don’t think he’ll ever get over it,” Livingstone said.

“But I think there should be some very strong precautions there in terms of anger management or rehab. Almost like a behaviour bond.”

Former Australian butterflier and Olympic silver medallist Scott Miller, who also made headlines outside the pool, said it would be a crime if D’Arcy was booted off the team.

Miller was kicked out of the Australian Institute of Sport in 1997 after he was involved in a nightclub scuffle in Canberra during a team camp.

“It happens in football all the time and they get a couple of weeks. But the Olympic Games is such a big sporting event, it’s the pinnacle of this young bloke’s career,” Miller said.

“He has just done an enormous (butterfly) time, he is in there for a medal. It would be a crime to kick him off the team. Give the kid a break, he’s only a young bloke, don’t ruin his life.”

Olympic champion Duncan Armstrong said it would be sad if D’Arcy was unable to fulfil his Olympic dream, but added everyone needed to be responsible for their actions.