Australia Athletes Banned From Drinking At 2014 Winter Olympics

Strewth! Why Are Aussie Athletes Banned From Drinking?
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 30: Lydia Lassila of Australia poses during the Australian Winter Olympics Games press conference at Museum of Contemporary Art on October 30, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 30: Lydia Lassila of Australia poses during the Australian Winter Olympics Games press conference at Museum of Contemporary Art on October 30, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Ryan Pierse via Getty Images

Australia athletes risk being sent home from the 2014 Winter Olympics if they are caught "swaying or having rambling conversations".

It comes after six Australian rugby union players were dropped over a drinking session before their weekend international victory over Ireland.

Five players will not feature against Scotland on Saturday, while prop Paddy Ryan will miss the game against Wales next week.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has now imposed strict alcohol restrictions on its athletes, although they are allowed to drink responsibly outside the Olympic Village after events.

Unacceptable conduct includes:

  • Being disorderly or argumentative
  • Being bad tempered, aggressive or using offensive language
  • Swaying, staggering or falling down
  • Speech which is loud and boisterous
  • Having rambling conversations
  • Having difficulty in paying attention or comprehending others
  • Annoying fellow team members and others
  • Other conduct deemed by the Chef de Mission to be inconsistent with the standards expected of a team member

During the London 2012 Olympics, rower Josh Booth was arrested for causing damage to a shop window whilst intoxicated.

This preceded Australia's worst performance at an Olympics for two decades, with a stinging report uncovering a "toxic culture" in the swimming team.

Kitty Chiller, the Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission, said: "This is about us providing a totally 100% high-performance focused environment to allow athletes to best prepare for their event whether they are competing on day one or day 16 of the Games.

"It's about recommending responsible consumption of alcohol and ensuring no other athlete in the village is disrupted by the irresponsible consumption of alcohol by other team members who have finished competing."

Close

What's Hot