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Huegill apologises following drugs charge

Ex-swimming star Geoff Huegill has made a public apology after being allegedly caught with cocaine at Sydney’s Randwick races on Saturday.

Huegill and his wife Sara were charged with possession of a prohibited drug, believed to be cocaine, at the star-studded autumn racing carnival.

“Some people feel that they have been let down and I deeply apologise for that,” the 35-year-old Olympian told the Nine Network on Tuesday.

Huegill and his wife are due to appear at Waverley court on May 14.

His comments follow water safety body AustSwim suspending Huegill as an ambassador, pending the outcome of his court case.

AustSwim said Huegill, had been a committed water safety advocate during his 10 years as ambassador.

“However, if the allegations are proven then AustSwim’s standards would not allow him to continue in his role as an AustSwim ambassador,” it said.

Huegill had only recently re-signed with AustSwim as an ambassador through to February 2015.

One of his sponsors, Swisse, said Huegill was used as part of a contract with Swimming Australia, ending in May.

He had not been used in any mass media campaigns in the past year, said Swisse CEO Radek Sali.

“We notified Swimming Australia several weeks ago that we would not be renewing our partnership when the contract expired at the end of May.”

Another of Huegill’s sponsors Speedo told AAP it would not be making any comment.

Huegill won two Olympic medals at the Sydney Games before retiring after the 2004 Athens Games.

He admitted to battling drugs and depression after his retirement from the sport but the popular athlete won over the Australian public after losing nearly 50kg in his comeback to the pool.

He preached about the importance of good health on the way to winning two gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games before missing out on the London Olympic team.

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