By Paul Osborne

The AOC has released a statement outlining the restrictions to be imposed on its athletes at future Summer and Winter Olympics @AFP/Getty ImagesNovember 19 - Australian athletes at Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 risk being sent home should they be found "swaying", "staggering", "falling down" or "having rambling conversations" in the Olympic Village they were warned today. 


A document, Position Statement on the Australian Olympic Team and Alcohol, was sent out to all National Governing Bodies of Olympic sports and looks to stamp out what the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) sees as symptoms of drunken behaviour during the upcoming Summer and Winter Games.

"These restrictions have been implemented to ensure that Australia's Olympic athletes are given the opportunity to compete to the best of their ability and with distinction," said AOC President John Coates.

Among the behaviour thought to be 'inappropriate or disruptive to others' at the Olympic Village were:

· Being disorderly or argumentative

· Swaying, staggering or falling down

· Having rambling conversations

· Being bad tempered, aggressive or using offensive language

· Having difficulty in paying attention or comprehending others

· Annoying fellow team members and others

The possession, service or consumption of alcohol by any team member within the Olympic Village has also been prohibited, as has the consumption of alcohol on the team's chartered flight home to Australia.

Australia's swim team picked up only one gold in the London 2012 and claimed their worst medal haul since 1992 with just 10 medalsAustralia's swim team picked up only one gold in the pool at London 2012 and claimed their worst medal haul since 1992 with just 10 medals ©Getty Images



Kitty Chiller, Chef de Mission for Australia's team for Rio 2016, announced the measures a few weeks ago and explained the policy more fully in Sydney today.

"What this policy is about is not a ban on alcohol, it's not about stopping people celebrating after events," Chiller said.

"This is about us providing a totally 100 per cent 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."

The statement follows the ban on alcohol implemented by the AOC within the Olympic Village, in the build up to Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016.

The ban was implemented after a string of drunk and disorderly behaviour plagued the Australian team during London 2012 - an Olympics which saw the nation slump to its lowest medal for 20 years.

Despite these incidents, Chiller claimed this policy was "not a knee-jerk reaction to London."

She added: "This is about moving forward with an even greater high performance environment designed for success.

"It is disappointing that we need to include these restrictions as part of future team agreements but it is only necessary due to a small number of team members from the past."

Australian sport was the subject of more alcohol related problems this week when six players from their rugby union team were banned for breaking drinking rules before their match with Ireland on Saturday.

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