Kiwi swimmer Bell’s future on the line over Delhi CWG booze-ban violation

CANBERRA - New Zealand swimmer Daniel Bell would reportedly be called to a meeting next week to discuss his future in the sport after he was sent home in disgrace from the Commonwealth Games for breaking his team’s zero alcohol policy.

According to Stuff.co.nz, Swimming New Zealand stood by its decision on Friday for sending back Bell from New Delhi following his misconduct, which was reported by two of his team-mates to head swim coach Mark Regan on Monday.

New Zealand team chef de mission Dave Currie left New Delhi before the story broke and is due to arrive in New Zealand on Saturday afternoon.

Although Swimming New Zealand chief executive Mike Byrne confirmed the New Zealand Olympic Committee was consulted “and they endorsed our decision,” a spokesman said that NZOC said that, “it had nothing to do with us”.

“But we had jurisdiction to send him home and that’s what we decided to do. As chief executive I was consulted and also endorsed the recommendation made by the senior management team,” Byrne said.

“It would not have mattered whether he had one beer or 100 beers. He knew about the rule but still went ahead and broke it,” he added.

The penalty at first glance would seem extremely harsh, even accounting for Bell’s track record, where he has been involved in two previous alcohol-related incidents, the report said.

Earlier, team-mates Dean Kent, Corney Swanepoel and Cameron Gibson were expelled from the New Zealand team and the Olympic village after taking a photo of a drunk Bell sitting on the toilet at a social function at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Bell was believed to be unwinding with some friends in the team village when he was caught. (ANI)