Four male members of the Australian swimming team have admitted taking a banned drug during a bonding session before the Olympics.

At a press conference in Sydney this afternoon, Eamon Sullivan, James Magnussen, James Roberts and Matt Targett admitted to taking Stilnox, a drug prohibited by the AOC ahead of the London Games.

In a statement read by former gold medallist Daniel Kowalski, the group admitted to knocking on doors and making prank calls at a staging camp in Manchester while others were asleep.

"At one point some team members left the room and did knock on the doors of our team but at no time did we think it was anything but childish behaviour," the statement read.

"As proud members of the Australian swimming team, we acknowledge that by our actions, we have let ourselves down."

The Stilnox had been prescribed to members of the team before the drug was prohibited, and the four swimmers took one tablet each.
Februrary 22, 2013: Silver medal-winning backstroker Emily Seebohm has said she is the one who complained to head coach Leigh Nugent.

Magnussen said he took Stilnox because he was feeling the pressure of being an Olympic favourite and wanted to "be normal for one night".

"One of the reasons I agreed to go along was I was under so much pressure," he said.

"In hindsight it was a ridiculous choice."

Sullivan said as a senior member of the team he should have stood up and said no to the behaviour.

"I'm deeply sorry that my actions in not taking more leadership on the night has brought us to this point," he said.

"It did cross my mind that it was a bad idea, and for that I am truly sorry."
Eamon Sullivan, James Magnussen, Matt Targett and James Roberts ahead of the mens 4x100 freestyle final. (AAP)
Eamon Sullivan, James Magnussen, Matt Targett and James Roberts ahead of the mens 4x100 freestyle final. (AAP)

The group also insisted all of them were in bed by 10.30pm.

Sullivan rejected earlier allegations from swimmer Leisel Jones that a younger male swimmer had been bullied by the group.

"Not at all. That's a false statement," he said.

Fellow Olympian Emily Seebohm has told Nine News she questions the claim the athletes were in bed by 10.30pm.

"I don't know how they were asleep at 10.30 if I got a call at 11 or 11:30 at night," she said.

"I had a time trial that morning and it was unfair to do that to other people."

The group also rejected suggestions that taking the Stilnox affected their performance at the Games.

They made some mistakes but I really don't like the way they've been hung out to dry. What were the team officials doing when this was happening?

:lol: The over-reaction to this has been fucking incredible. Personal favourite was the journo who really wanted to know what movie they watched :lol:

Seriously, all this hoopla for 1 fucking Stilnox tablet. I guess we should send them to the gallows then.