The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has confirmed the decision to drop Nick D'Arcy from the Australian swimming team for the Beijing Olympic Games after the swimmer was charged with assault. The decision, as expected, backs that taken by the committee's President, John Coates.

The Court of Arbitration ruled last month that Coates had no right to take the decision on his own. Coates excluded himself from the meeting and decision today. The truth is, that Coates would have known that he had the support of the majority of members who serve under his presidency. And so it turned out today Down Under.

D'Arcy is appealing against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. He told reporters gathered outside the hearing: 'Obviously I'm very disappointed by today's decision. I can't say it's a surprising decision, however I am lodging an appeal - it's already been put in the works, in preparation for today's decision. I will be appealing to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) and that will be my final port of call.'

He would continue to train as if heading for Beijing. 'Oviously I'll continue to train until every last option has been exhausted and hopefully that'll be a quick decision that'll come round either late this week or early next week.'

Coates dropped D'Arcy for bringing sport into disrepute after allegedly being involved in an incident in outside a Sydney nightclub that left former Dolphin Simon Cowley facing the prospect of having to have metal plates in his face for the rest of his life. D'Arcy was charged with assault.