Former world champion cyclist Jobie Dajka has revealed his expulsion from the 2004 Olympic Team sent him into a three-year period of deep depression and alcoholism.

Dajka was expelled from the Australian team for lying to a tribunal about vitamin B injections, the incident leading to what he described as "three years of hell".

"I was drinking six litres of wine a day to numb the pain," Dajka told Fairfax Newspapers.

"And eventually, after a year and a half, I realised things had to change, but then it took another year and a half to get through it, and it's not just me, it impacted on my family and friends."

Dajka continued cycling after his axing but was handed a three-month suspended jail term, fined $2600 for 13 offences and ordered to write a remorseful letter after assaulting Australian head coach Martin Barras in his office.

"That happened because I was an alcoholic," Dajka said.

The cyclist even admitted to drinking six to 12 beers a night before racing at the 2005 world championships in Los Angeles.

Dajka said he could identify with estranged swimmer Nick D'Arcy, who is fighting for the right to compete in Beijing after being charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm on former swimmer Simon Cowley.

"I think about what is going through his mind and what is going through his head is not pretty," Dajka said.

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