Australia's Rugby Sevens players have been reprimanded for their drunken behaviour on a flight home from the Tokyo Olympics and for damaging their rooms in the Japanese capital.
Rugby Australia will also foot the bill for the damages to beds and walls, and for leaving the rooms in an unacceptable state at the accommodation in Tokyo's athletes village.
Rugby players and rowers had damaged rooms in the village while celebrating the end of their competitions. The rowers have since apologised.
Rugby Australia also apologised to Japan Airlines and the other passengers on that flight, as well as to the Australian Olympic Committee, which heads the entire delegation to Tokyo.
"This behaviour is entirely unacceptable, and not befitting any athlete who represents Australia or aspires to do so," says Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos.
"Whilst we acknowledge the disappointment experienced through their Olympic campaign, as well as the challenging environment all athletes have had to deal with since the start of the pandemic, this is not an excuse for this behaviour."
Rugby Australia has also warned the players about their future conduct. Some will undergo education and counselling sessions over behaviour and alcohol consumption.
"Rugby Australia has a zero-tolerance approach towards poor behaviour and expects the highest standards of conduct at all times," Marinos says. "It is without doubt that this will have a bearing on how we look at the sevens environment going forward."
The Australian men went out in Olympic quarter-finals, losing 19-0 to Fiji. Upon their return, all athletes must go into a two-week mandatory quarantine.
Reuters
