22 Feb 2013

Aussie swimmers admit using sedative

7:03 pm on 22 February 2013

Five members of the Australian men's 4x100m freestyle relay squad have admitted using a sedative banned by their national Olympic committee in a bonding session before the London Games.

The prescription drug Stilnox was banned by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) just before the 2012 Games and the athletes now face sanctions from the governing body for breaching their Olympic team membership agreement.

The Olympic silver medallist James Magnussen and his team mates Matt Targett, Eamon Sullivan, James Roberts, Cameron McEvoy and Tommaso D'Orsogna apologised for their actions at a press conference this afternoon.

Magnussen spoke about his regret but denied it had any negative impact on his performance.

Magnussen just missed out on gold in London in the individual 100 metre freestyle, after going in as the red-hot favourite.

The relay squad arrived in London confident of winning gold but ended up fourth in the final as the swimming team produced Australia's worst results in the Olympic pool for two decades.