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Friday, February 22, 2013

Aussie swimmers admit using sedative in bonding sessions


SYDNEY (Reuters) - James Magnussen and his team mates from the men's 4x100m freestyle relay squad have admitted using sedative Stilnox in a bonding session before the London Olympics.

"We stand here today to admit that we took Stilnox following a day of bonding for the relay team at the training camp in Manchester," the Olympic silver medallist and his team mates Matt Targett, Eamon Sullivan, James Roberts, Cameron McEvoy and Tommaso D'Orsogna said in a statement read out at a news conference in Sydney on Friday.

Australian swimmer James Magnussen, the100-metre freestyle world champion, is seen at the Aquatics Centre before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London, July 23, 2012. REUTERS/David GrayAustralian swimmer James Magnussen, the100-metre freestyle world champion, is seen at the Aquatics Centre before the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games in London, July 23, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray

The sedative was banned by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) just before the Games and the athletes now face sanctions from the governing body for breaching their Olympic team membership agreement.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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