Former Swimming Australia coach arrested at Sydney Olympic pool
A former Swimming Australia coach has been arrested after he refused to leave Sydney Olympic Park yesterday.
Brian Sutton, 56, a former head coach of the men’s Australian swim team, attended the Australian Age National Championships on Wednesday.
While at the junior national swim championships Mr Sutton allegedly tried to get onto the pool deck using someone else’s accreditation.
It’s believed the former coach didn’t have the proper accreditation for Wednesday’s event.
Security caught Mr Sutton and asked him to leave the venue just before 11.30am Wednesday.
He refused and police were called to the venue.
Mr Sutton allegedly became aggressive towards police, resisted arrest, and scuffled with police. He was eventually taken by officers to Auburn Police Station.
After spending time in custody, he was later released and taken to Westmead Hospital by NSW Ambulance with a shoulder injury.
A NSW Police spokesman did not say if charges will be laid over the alleged incident but said inquiries are continuing.
Swimming Australia said Mr Sutton was banned from the junior championships for the rest of the week and it was considering further sanctions in the coming weeks.
Mr Sutton was sacked as Swimming Australia’s head men’s coach in 2003 after he was suspended from the World Championships in Germany.
The former coach arrived a day late after he delayed his flight to accompany former freestyler Elka Graham on the flight.
“I was persecuted because I was doing the right thing by my swimmer [Elka Graham] — I had an obligation of duty of care,” he said at the time.
Australian Swimming Inc stood Mr Sutton down from his role because of the rules breach.
“When he did not join the team on Tuesday, Australian Swimming had to consider Brian’s position as a head coach and as a personal coach,” ASI chief executive officer Glenn Tasker said in July 2003.
“We gave Brian the time he requested but expected him to join the team on Tuesday but he failed to make that commitment.
“Subsequently Brian’s position on the 2003 World Championship team has been withdrawn,” he added.
Mr Sutton retired from competitive coaching in 2004 and now works as a high performance consultant to a number of Australia’s top swimming organisation.