Australia's team chief Steve Moneghetti says he's disappointed, but not embarrassed, by ugly incidents which led to the athletics head coach and a weightlifter being kicked out of the Commonwealth Games.
Athletics head coach Eric Hollingsworth and bronze medallist Francois Etoundi have both had their accreditations revoked, with Hollingsworth being sent home and Etoundi due in court in Glasgow on Thursday to face charges over an alleged assault.
Moneghetti banished Hollingsworth from the team after Athletics Australia suspended him over his extraordinary comments attacking Olympic champion Sally Pearson on the eve of her event.
But Moneghetti waited before sending Hollingsworth packing, allowing the Englishman to remain in the team long enough to support heptathlete Sophie Stanwell as she completed her competition at Hampden Park on Wednesday night.
Hollingsworth was the team coach for heptathlon, and his accreditation was revoked when Stanwell's event had finished.
Moneghetti spoke with Hollingsworth and said the coach accepted he had breached the team agreement.
Etoundi spent Wednesday night in police custody after an alleged incident with a Welsh athlete in the athletes' village that morning and was being represented in Glasgow Sheriff Court by AA's president David Grace, who is a Melbourne QC.
"I'm certainly not embarrassed, I'm disappointed," Moneghetti said of the incidents on Thursday.
"I'm not embarrassed, because as an Australian team, we perform proudly with great integrity and we represent the Australian Commonwealth Games extremely well.
"These incidents, while disappointing, I'm sure the overall impression of the Australian team that's here is one of great toughness and great spirit and great representation of their country.
"Whilst those couple of incidents yesterday were disappointing, they happen in Games villages. There are 7000 people in villages.
"It's not the first time, it won't be the last time. For me, it's disappointing that I've need to take action."
Moneghetti declined to comment on the alleged incident involving Etoundi because the court matter was still underway.
But he revealed the Commonwealth Games Federation had directed him to revoke Cameroon-born Etoundi's accreditation, citing a breach of the athletes village rules.
Moneghetti said his main concern had been Etoundi's welfare and ensuring he had legal representation.
He also addressed another matter before the Sheriff Court in which the brother of boxer Jordan Samardali was charged with assault over an incident at the boxing venue on Tuesday night.
Laith Samardali reportedly reacted angrily toward the referee when he stopped his brother's fight 39 seconds into the first round.
A witness told the ABC Samardali verbally abused the referee and started throwing bottles.
"I haven't spoken to Jordan directly. I have spoken to the section manager for boxing, he's aware of it and obviously Jordan is aware of it," he said.
"He's comfortable with how that's proceeding. He's not affected by it. He's in the village and supporting his boxing team."
Moneghetti said he saw Pearson on Wednesday and believed she hadn't been affected by the drama with Hollingsworth.
"She seemed pretty focused on her performance so she wasn't affected by it at all," he said.
"She's a consummate professional and she looked really focused."
Pearson opens her 100m title defence at Hampden Park on Thursday night.
Share
