Booze and arrows: How a beer over lunch killed an Olympic dream

Featuring witness statements from other archers, data extracted from point-of-sale software at the golf club’s bar and even analysis of how particular brands of beer settle in a pint glass, the accusation against Darcy was examined in fascinating, forensic detail by tribunal panellist Nicholas Pane KC, who ultimately found in his favour.

“Having considered all the evidence and submissions, I am not satisfied that it is likely [Darcy] consumed an alcoholic beverage at the Yarrambat Golf Club on 16 July 2023 as alleged by [AA],” said Pane in his decision, which was made in December but has until now been unreported.

Darcy had headed for lunch at the golf club with Alec Potts, a bronze medallist for Australia at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, and another national squad member, Sarah Haywood, after the morning leg of the competition wound up at 12.08pm.

Also at the venue as they sat down to eat was another archer, Markus Kuhrau, and a coach, dual Olympian Alice Ingley.

“From what I could see they all had 1 drink, but I left early …” Kuhrau said in a statement last July. “When I left I had a chat with the person who served them and she confirmed it with me that it was definitely not alcohol free drinks.”

AA presented to the tribunal a photograph taken by Kuhrau of Potts and Haywood with two glasses in front of them as well as a statement made by Ingley last October, in which she said she “found [Darcy] sitting at an outside table of the golf club with a drink that appeared to be beer …”

A statement was also produced by the golf club’s general manager, Matthew Weisheit, who said zero-strength beer was only available at the venue in stubbies and cans, not on tap, and was not usually poured into a glass unless the customer asked for it.

According to Pane’s decision, the club manager further posited that “the beer head around the inside of the glass in front of the male in the photo … is unlikely to be of zero alcohol as neither product (Great Northern or Carlton) leave a head mark like that and the stubby would not have filled the pint glass that high”.

“It would be more likely therefore, that the pint glass contained a tap beer, all of which contain a level of alcohol,” the manager testified.

The golf club recorded selling two mid-strength Great Northern Super Crisp beers at 12.13pm, two Cascade Lights at 12.21pm and a schooner of Bulmer’s cider at 12.27pm. But the tribunal was told the club’s computer program that registers sales makes no distinction between Great Northern’s alcohol-free offering and its 3.5 per cent offering, marking them all as Super Crisp.

Having refused to accept AA’s sanction, Darcy maintained he hadn’t had a drop of alcohol on the day and added that even if he had ingested a regular beer, it would have been out of his system by the time the archery event resumed and he picked up a bow and arrow almost an hour and half later.

The tribunal adjudicator agreed with him, finding there was insufficient evidence Darcy’s drink was alcoholic – and he was not in breach of the AA and World Archery rules – and casting doubt on whether he would have been if it was.

“In this case, I would have reservations as to whether a single mid-strength beer (285ml, 375ml or 500ml) consumed at 12.30pm would have any influence on a competitor competing at 1.52pm,” Pane concluded.

Darcy told this masthead the outcome gave him a strong sense of vindication but the episode left a sour taste.

“AA had at all times in the process assumed guilt,” he said. “They had been hounding me for six months over allegations that they were unable to prove, and which wouldn’t have even necessarily constituted a breach under their own rules.”

Darcy criticised the governing body for “wasting tens of thousands of dollars from an underfunded sports budget” in pursuing the case against him.

His lunch companions Potts and Haywood had also been alleged to have drunk alcohol at the golf club but Darcy’s was the only case that made it to the NST.

Loading

“In terms of how this has affected me as an athlete, I suffered a clear drop in performance in the six months it took to resolve this matter,” Darcy said.

“This case was an unnecessary distraction and contributed to my withdrawal from contending for the 2024 [Olympic] team and my retirement from competition. My relationship with AA remains tenuous and I find it difficult to engage with the sport.”

AA declined to comment when contacted but said in a statement issued to members that it accepted the NST determination and acknowledged the co-operation in proceedings of Darcy.

“The safety of participants, spectators and others involved in the sport of archery is of paramount importance,” the AA statement said. “Archery Australia intends reviewing its rules, regulations, and procedures, specifically as they apply to the consumption of alcohol during and before sporting contests, so to mandate that no athlete is under the influence of alcohol while present on the field of play.”