Swimming Australia president quits

In yet another controversy to rock the Australian swimming establishment, Swimming Australia (SA) President Barclay Nettlefold has resigned, after complaints of verbal harassment were lodged by two staff members relating to separate incidents.

He was accused of making inappropriate remark towards a female staff member in a lift at the Australian Championships in Adelaide in May.

Initially, SA was satisfied with setting up an investigation, but when a second similar complaint was made in early June they stood him down.

Nettlefold then resigned later the same day.

Nettlefold said that the comments in question were made with humorous intent, but ultimately were not aligned with the culture Swimming Australia is trying to promote.

“There were some private comments made in jest to my colleagues recently not consistent with the standards expected of me: standards I have urged to be incorporated into the future culture of swimming in Australia,” he said.

The allegations only relate to comments; there are no complaints of inappropriate physical behaviour, a distinction SA CEO Mark Anderson was keen to point out.