May 5th, 2017

May 5th, 2017

Shooting Australia are standing by Michael Diamond despite the dual Olympic champion's gun licence being revoked for 10 years over firearms charges.

The 44-year-old Diamond was convicted in a NSW court on Thursday of charges relating to driving under the influence, and gun and ammunition storage.

The charges, which led to his non-selection for Australia in the 2016 Rio Olympics, stemmed from a fight with his brother near Newcastle last May.

Diamond's conviction carries a mandatory 10-year ban on firearms.

Shooting Australia (SA) said it would reach out to him, but it's unknown what level of support it will provide.

The body has also not conceded Diamond's shooting career is over, and hasn't placed its own punishment, if any, on him since the conviction.

"This is a difficult time for Michael Diamond," a SA spokesman told AAP.

"While Shooting Australia's focus is and must be the development of top-level athletes for the future, we will not turn our backs on someone who has been such a great servant of our sport and our country in the past."

Diamond, a veteran trap shooter, is a six-time Olympian and won gold medals at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Games.

He said last year a shot at winning a third gold medal was his "life".

"The Australian community is increasingly aware of the pressure and difficulties faced by former high-level athletes," the SA spokesman said.

"We continue to reach out to Michael and we have made ourselves available to provide help to him as he moves forward in his life."

Diamond's non-selection for Rio last year denied him the opportunity to become the second Australian to compete at seven Olympics.

©AAP2017