Commonwealth Games 2022: Australian swimmer Isaac Cooper sent home for disciplinary reasons

Isaac Cooper has been banished from the Aussie swim team - but there are concerns that the misbehaviour with medication was far more widespread within the team.

Australian swimming’s cultural reform is back under the spotlight, with one swimmer sent home in disgrace after athletes enjoyed an “abnormal” two-week European vacation leading into the Commonwealth Games.

Exactly 10 years after the infamous Stilnox saga created worldwide headlines as six Dolphins swimmers admitted to abusing the banned sleeping drug ahead of the London Olympic Games, “use of medication” is again at the centre of another Australian swimming incident.

Queensland backstroker Isaac Cooper was banished from the swim team’s staging camp in Chartres in France earlier this week after an incident that Swimming Australia revealed involved medication.

There are concerns from those close to the Australian team alleging that Cooper was made a “fall guy” and a “scapegoat” and that he wasn’t alone when it came to misbehaviour and that a “party” was had. Another person dubbed Commonwealth Games hopeful’s omission from the Commonwealth Games team an “over-the-top reaction”.

Aussie swimmer Isaac Cooper has been sent home, while the team enjoyed what has been described as an "abnormal" hiatus.

But there were more questions and answers with scant detail about what happened in France that would see a Commonwealth Games bound athlete banished. Both Commonwealth Games chief Craig Phillips and Chef De Mission Petria Thomas both stated they had little detail from Swimming Australia on the specifics of the incident.

“We don’t have the details … it’s a challenging time for Isaac and we wish him all the best … while he takes the time to work on his wellbeing,” Thomas said.

Swimming Australia issued a press release at 6am on Tuesday, having learned overnight that News Corp was making discreet inquiries into the matter after receiving an anonymous tip off about misbehaviour by male swimmers in the team.

Isaac Cooper in action at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Alex Coppel.

A spokesman for SA was adamant that Stilnox was not the medication at the centre of this incident and that the alleged misdemeanour only involved Cooper and no other athletes.

“Cooper has been sent home from the Dolphins training camp following some wellbeing challenges, including the use of medication,” SA said in a statement.

“He has acknowledged his mistakes and accepted the consequences, and Swimming Australia will continue to support him as he addresses these challenges.

“The welfare of our athletes remains our absolute priority. Swimming Australia is vigilant in educating athletes of their obligations under the National Integrity Framework and will continue to provide all necessary support to ensure they uphold the highest standards and behaviours when representing Australia.”

Former Australian swim star Leisel Jones told Triple M’s Rush Hour the lack of explanation by SA left a lot of ambiguity over an incident – especially considering how rare it is for an athlete to be sent home.

“I have no idea what that (use of medication) means, I have no idea what that implies, I am sure a lot of people will make a lot of assumptions about what that possibly could be and it could be a multitude of many, many different things,” Jones said.

“This is very strange from Swimming Australia. I don’t know of many people, you could probably count on one hand, who have been sent home from camps like this.”

But while Cooper is headed home with his Birmingham dreams shattered, serious questions are being raised about the preparations of the swim team.

Up to 38 athletes and support staff remained in Europe between the Budapest championships ending on June 26 and the Commonwealth Games starting on July 28.

The swim team relocated from Budapest to Barcelona immediately after the world titles, with a team hub set up for athletes to come and go as they pleased.

There were no restrictions placed on their movements or training demands during a two-week period until all swimmers were expected to report to France for the staging camp in Chartres, a small city 90km north of Paris.

The decision to avoid jet lag by flying back to Australia, combined with the freedom afforded young athletes in Europe, is now up for debate as the sport reels from another crisis while still surviving without a major sponsor and living off either government handouts or donations from billionaire Gina Rinehart.

“It is very rare we have world swimming championships and Commonwealth Games so close together and in one year,” Jones said.

“Swimming Australia made the decision to stay over there instead of sending their swimmers home for a few weeks in between and dealing with all the jet lag.

“They were in Spain for a little while, very relaxed measures, they could switch off if they wanted to and train if they wanted to and it was all to keep them fresh.

“That is very abnormal and we have never done that before. That is what I think has been a bit of a challenge here whether people have switched off too much.”

Instagram has showcased the bronzed up Australians walking the streets of Europe in Barcelona, Vienna and Paris or even visiting the Swiss Alps.

A still from Kyle Chalmers' Instagram.

One of those front and centre on the platform has been Olympic gold medallist and Australian freestyle star Kyle Chalmers.

Chalmers showcased his friendship with junior squad members including Sam Short and Cooper. One post two weeks ago on Chalmers’ Instagram stories showcased a photo of the three of them as the “alpha gang”.

“Reunited with the alpha gang @mrisaaccooper and @_samshort_” — wrote Chalmers.

The Dolphins will relocate from France to Birmingham on Saturday but will now enter the Commonwealth Games under immense pressure.

Not only do they have to win a bag full of gold medals, they have to prove the Euro junket hasn’t impacted the performance of the athletes who just a month ago posted impressive times at the world titles.

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2022: Australian swimmer Isaac Cooper sent home for disciplinary reasons