Swimmer Isaac Cooper says he is “pretty low” after being dropped from Australia’s Commonwealth Games team, but says he did not take any banned substances.
Key points:
- Cooper was sent home from a training camp in France this week
- He says it was his “well-being and mental health” that caused him to be sent home
- Cooper had been a strong favorite to medal at the Commonwealth Games
The Australian backstroke champion was sent home from a swimming camp ahead of the Games in France this week.
Swimming Australia said Cooper was sent home “after some wellness challenges, including the use of medication”.
“My drug abuse was not banned substances (sic),” Cooper said in an Instagram post.
“Ultimately, it was my well-being and mental health that brought me home.
“It was hard to accept in myself that I needed to address my mental health, but I think it’s an ever-present issue in every community, including that of a professional athlete.
“I am grateful to Swimming Australia for helping to identify a problem and offering their support and resources to help me.”
Cooper was sent home from the Australian swimming team’s camp in Chartres before arriving in Birmingham this weekend for the Commonwealth Games, which start on July 28.
The 18-year-old had been favored to win gold medals in the 50m and 100m backstroke events. He is the highest-ranked Commonwealth swimmer in both events.
“I have had to undergo a lot of self-reflection and examination,” he wrote.
“The decision made to send me home was based on my behavior and mental health and was made in my best interests and that of the team competing at the Commonwealth Games.”
The specific medication Cooper used has not been disclosed, but he said there were “two sides to the story.”
“More than anything I wish I could be there, run with my team and cheer them on,” he wrote.
“The team means a lot to me and I have made lifelong friends, but the decision was not made in the interest of the next few weeks, but in the interest of the future of my swimming career.
“For the next few weeks I will be reflecting and resetting the future.
“I will take advantage of this time of reflection to also examine current problems.
“There are always two sides to a story and I will continue to work positively and confidentially with Swimming Australia.”
AAP