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Just hours after Swimming Australia released an independent review into its London 2012 Olympics campaign highlighting a "toxic" culture which saw athletes abuse prescription drugs, alcohol and curfews during the London Olympics, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has delivered its own report on how improve the management of Australian swimming.

Equally as damning as the report conducted by consultancy firm Bluestone Edge, the ASC Independent Swimming Review has delivered 35 recommendations as to how to improve the management of Australian swimming including enhance oversight of the high performance program, setting tougher qualification times and improving relationships with the swimmers.

ASC Chairman John Wylie welcomed the report saying it will help the decision making process for future investment in sports.

Wylie stated "the recommendations of the review panel will be fully considered by the ASC Board. I'm encouraged by the thorough analysis of the issues which have confronted swimming and common themes in this report create opportunities for all sports to benefit from lessons learned."

Chaired by from former Commission Chairman and Federal Sports Minister Warwick Smith, the Independent Swimming Review panel received 30 submissions and met 94 individuals as part of its review into the issues around its leadership, governance and administration, culture and declining achievement on the world stage.

ASC Chief Executive Simon Hollingsworth noted moves by Swimming Australia to address concerns raised the revie, stating "the panel chair noted that Swimming Australia has already made some encouraging progress in becoming more accountable and transparent under its new leadership.

"I am particularly pleased that the panel has made some clear recommendations around governance as this is an area that the ASC is placing significant focus on as part of its new strategic direction in Australia's Winning Edge.

"Swimming Australia has already commenced recruitment for a new high performance director and has also taken steps to improve its relationship with key stakeholders like the Australian Swimmers Association.

"Swimming is an important sport to Australia and is a key contributor to the goals set out in Australias Winning Edge launched by the ASC last year.

"The report mentions the strengthening of investment principles of sport under the Winning Edge which means accountability, good governance and international success are pre-requisites for Government support.

"This report is a clear message to Swimming Australia to continue its reforms to enable it to return to the top table of international swimming."

The Independent Swimming Review report is available at http://bit.ly/VCrzAB

19th February 2013 - REVIEW SLAMS ‘TOXIC’ CULTURE IN OLYMPIC SWIM TEAM

21st August 2012 - BOARD DIVERSITY A KEY TO SPORT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING

20th July 2012 - ARU MAKES HISTORY WITH ANN SHERRY’S BOARD APPOINTMENT

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