Commonwealth Games 2022: Swimmer breaks silence, denies misusing ‘banned substance’

Commonwealth Games swimmer Isaac Cooper has broken his silence, saying ‘behaviour and mental health’ contributed to his banishment from the team.

Isaac Cooper denied he was using a banned substance after being sent home. Picture: Delly Carr.

Australian swimmer Isaac Cooper has broken his silence on his expulsion from the Commonwealth Games team, saying the medication he misused was not a “banned substance” and that his “behaviour and mental health” led to his expulsion.

Cooper was sent home earlier this week for what Swimming Australia called “wellbeing challenges, including the use of medication”.

In a lengthy post on Instagram, the Tokyo Olympian, who was a good chance of a medal in the 50m and 100m backstroke in Birmingham, said the last few days “have been tough”.

“I’ve had to undergo a lot of self-reflection and examination,” Cooper wrote. “The decision made to send me home was based on my behaviour and mental health and was made in my best interest and that of the team competing at the Commonwealth Games. “

“My misuse of medication was not banned substances. It was ultimately my wellbeing and mental health that resulted in me going home.

“It was difficult to accept in myself that I needed to address my mental health, but I believe that it is an ever present issue in all communities, including that of a professional athlete. I am grateful to Swimming Australia for helping to identify an issue and offering their support and resources to help me.”

Mystery still surrounds the specifics of the prescription drug that Cooper used while on team camp and what else occurred that resulted in the swimmer being warned several times and then ultimately cut from the Commonwealth Games team.

Cooper said in his Instagram post that there were “two sides” of the story.

“There are always two sides to a story and I shall continue to work positively and confidentially with Swimming Australia,” he wrote.

Cooper said he wished he could be in Birmingham to race.

He was due to debut in four events — the 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle. At the Tokyo Olympics last year he finished 12th in the 100m backstroke, and won a bronze medal as part of the mixed 4x100m medley relay.

“More than anything I wish I could be there, racing with my team and cheering them on,” Cooper wrote. “The team means so much to me and I have made friends for life, but the decision was not made in the interest of the next few weeks, rather the interest for the future of my swimming career.”

Mystery surrounds the specifics of the prescription drug that Cooper used while on team camp that led him to be sent home. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Cooper also said he would exit his swim club in Brisbane.

“I have also come to the point in my career where I will have to move away from Rackley Swim Club,” Cooper wrote. “They have done wonderful things to support me and have brought me to the level that I am at today. I will forever be grateful to my coaches and the support staff, but more than anything my squad mates. You are my family away from home and it breaks my heart that I won’t be seeing you every day any more.

“For the next few weeks I will be reflecting and resetting for the future. I will use this time of reflection to also examine the current issues. There are always two sides to a story and I shall continue to work positively and confidentially with swimming Australia

“I would like to thank the many people who have reached out to me and my family and offered their help and assistance. It means more to me then you will ever know.

“My dad has always told me that Coopers are either up or getting up, but never down. I’m certainly pretty low, but this is the first step back up. I’ll see you there.”

Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2022: Swimmer breaks silence, denies misusing ‘banned substance’