Controversial swimmer Nick D’Arcy has been cleared by the Australian Olympic Committee to compete for selection at the London Games.

The AOC announced on Tuesday the bankrupt swimmer would be eligible for selection at next month’s trials after Swimming Australia earlier announced it had decided not to remove him from its shadow selection squad.

The 24-year-old 200m butterfly specialist is aiming to make his first Olympics after being kicked off the team for the 2008 Beijing Games following his assault on former swimmer Simon Cowley.

But his eligibility for London had been in doubt with the AOC determining whether or not he should be allowed to qualify for the team after filing for bankruptcy in December.

D’Arcy was last year ordered to pay $180,000 in damages to Cowley over the assault but filed for bankruptcy in December, a move which meant he would not have to pay and which was described by Cowley’s lawyer as a ‘cop out’.

The AOC had asked SA whether it was reconsidering D’Arcy’s nomination on a shadow Olympic selection squad submitted in December.

But after a board meeting on Friday SA confirmed on Tuesday that D’Arcy would remain on the shadow squad.

In a statement released late on Tuesday, Australian Olympic team chef de mission Nick Green said the AOC would be guided by the swimming body’s findings.

“(Swimming Australia Limited) has clearly considered Nick D’Arcy’s bankruptcy and advised the AOC they have not changed their endorsement of Nick D’Arcy’s shadow team membership,” the statement said.

“The AOC Selection Committee decided to be guided by SAL’s response on this matter and determined that Nick D’Arcy will retain his membership of the Shadow Team.

“Accordingly, he is eligible for selection to the Australian Olympic Team should he qualify and be nominated by SAL.

“Should Nick D’Arcy be selected, he will be subject to the ongoing obligations of an Olympic Team member as encapsulated in the Team Agreement.”