AppId is over the quota
Nick D'Arcy has been cleared for a shot at his first Olympics in London after officials declared the controversial swimmer eligible for selection.
The Australian Olympic Committee ended long-running speculation over D'Arcy's availability for the Games on Tuesday, announcing he would be allowed on to the team should he qualify at next month's trials in Adelaide.
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It came after Swimming Australia informed Olympic officials it had decided not to remove D'Arcy from a shadow selection squad, picked prior to the swimmer controversially filing for bankruptcy in December.
The 24-year-old 200m butterfly specialist will now try to qualify for the Olympics after being kicked off the team for the 2008 Beijing Games following his assault on former swimmer Simon Cowley.
D'Arcy was last year ordered to pay $180,000 in damages to Cowley over the assault but filed for bankruptcy in December, a move which meant he would not have to pay and which was described by Cowley's lawyer Sam Macedone as a 'cop out'.
Macedone, who along with Cowley had written to Swimming Australia to ask why D'Arcy had escaped being disciplined by the sport's governing body, said he was disappointed with the AOC's final decision on Tuesday but had accepted it.
"All I can say is they've made their decision and that's it. We can't complain ... we don't like it but that's the way it is," Macedone told AAP.
"... If Swimming Australia believe they've taken enough action against him for his breaches, well that's the way it goes.
"I'm still disappointed that that's their attitude.
"They seem to think the matters were dealt with in court, that that was a different matter altogether.
"I think they should have looked at behaviour generally but they've done that and said that it's come up to scratch, so that's the way it is."
D'Arcy's coach Michael Bohl said the Brisbane-based swimmer could now turn his full attention to the trials, starting March 15, where he looks a strong chance of overcoming recent injury woes to qualify for the team.
D'Arcy spent six months out of competition due to back and hip injuries but returned at this month's NSW championships to post an encouraging win in the 200m butterfly.
"I'm sure (this) has been at the back of his mind," Bohl said.
"But he's been working very hard and done very well since he's come back.
"... He's a had a couple of disappointments there but hopefully now he can really knuckle down and now he can focus totally on getting himself ready for the trials."
Tuesday's decision came after Swimming Australia held a board meeting on Friday after being asked by the AOC whether it was reconsidering D'Arcy's selection in the shadow squad.
SA did not offer reasoning for its recommendation on Tuesday and confirmed it had responded directly to Cowley's enquiry.
The AOC released a statement late on Friday, saying it had "decided to be guided by SAL's (Swimming Australia Limited's) response on this matter.
"... Accordingly, he is eligible for selection to the Australian Olympic Team should he qualify and be nominated by SAL.
"Should Nick D'Arcy be selected, he will be subject to the ongoing obligations of an Olympic Team member as encapsulated in the Team Agreement."
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