Australian swimming great Kieren Perkins says Nick Kyrgios would be too great a distraction to have at the Rio Olympics

OLYMPIC legend Kieren Perkins has joined the push for tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios to be snubbed from Australia’s team for Rio.

Nick Kyrgios yells at a ball boy during his first round match at the French Open.

OLYMPIC legend Kieren Perkins has joined the push for tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios to be snubbed from Australia’s team for Rio.

When asked whether Kyrgios should be chosen for the August Games, Perkins replied “not with the sort of behaviour he is producing at the moment’’.

“There are more than 300 athletes going to Rio and you just cannot afford to have one who becomes a distraction to officials who have a lot of things to look after,’’ Perkins said.

“There is also the fact that if you let someone like Kyrgios get away with stuff, what sort of message does that send to the other athletes. You don’t want double standards.’’

The sensitive issue of whether Kyrgios goes to Rio is likely to land in the lap of the Australian Olympic Committee’s board who will vote on the matter if Kygrios’ nomination is rejected by the team executive.

Tennis Australia have flagged their intention to nominate Kyrgios in the belief his behaviour in on the improve but those claims have been shot down by his first round blow-up with experienced umpire Carlos Ramos in the French Open when he was given a code violation for shouting at a ball boy.

Perkins, the dual Olympic 1500m champion and one of Australia’s most respected sporting voices, senses that the post-2012 London Games push for improved behaviour counts against Kyrgios’ cause.

“If he was willing and able to create an environment where the sort of behaviour he has at the moment was not going to happen at the Olympics then he might have been a chance,’’ he said..

“But from what I have seen it is not the sort of representation we are looking for at the Olympics.

“At the (Olympic fundraiser in Brisbane) on Saturday we heard Ian Thorpe, James Tomkins, Susie (O’Neill) and Nat (Cook) on stage talking about the responsibility that comes with being an inspiration to the country and how representing Australia at the Olympics is the embodiment of all the good things sports stand for.

“It does not mean we are all perfect. When you are starting from the standpoint of where Kygios’ behaviour is at the moment it is pretty obvious it does not really fit.’’

Nick Kyrgios yells at a ball boy during his first round match at the French Open.

Perkins was unsure which way the AOC would vote on the issue but added “if he misbehaves again I don’t think they will take him’’.

The AOC executive may also have to rule on shooter Michael Diamond, who has had his gun licence suspended as he faces charges of driving with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit, as well as being in possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.

Diamond is now considered a highly unlikely starter for what would have been his seventh Games. Even if he was chosen by Shooting Australia, it is likely the AOC would block his selection.

His selection was already under question due to an appeal by 17-year-old Mitchell Iles over his omission from the original squad.

The appeal will be held soon in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Originally published as Australian swimming great Kieren Perkins says Nick Kyrgios would be too great a distraction to have at the Rio Olympics