Commonwealth Games silver medallist Daniel Bell may yet
suffer more punishment for breaking a New Zealand swimming
team zero-tolerance alcohol policy.
He was sent home early from the Games at New Delhi last week
after "drinking a couple of beers" after completing his
competition programme.
Swimming New Zealand chief executive Mike Byrne today said it
had yet to be determined whether Bell, a silver medallist in
the 100m backstroke, would face further punishment.
Byrne's comments contradicted Jan Cameron, the organisation's
performance and pathways director, who earlier today said no
further action would be taken against the 20-year-old
swimmer.
"I was surprised by that comment from Jan and I will have to
work through that with her," Byrne told NZPA.
"I am in the process of setting up a meeting with Daniel some
time next week," he said.
"There needs to be a formal review of what happened."
The latest incident is the third time Bell has been involved
in an alcohol-related incident while overseas with a New
Zealand team.
Teammates Dean Kent, Corney Swanepoel and Cameron Gibson were
expelled from the New Zealand team and the athletes' village
after taking a photo of a drunk Bell sitting on the toilet at
a social function at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
And Bell was last year admitted to hospital in Rome suffering
from excessive alcohol intake following the completion of the
world championships.
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