GLASGOW -- Australia's Commonwealth Games team was reeling Thursday after an alleged assault by one of its medallists and a rift within the track and field squad -- just as the country's 20-year domination of the competition could be coming to an end.

Australia has topped the medals standings at every Commonwealth Games since 1990 but slipped to second place behind England on Wednesday, trailing 38-35 in the gold medal count. With the games ending on Sunday, Australia looked unlikely to regain the lead because swimming, where the team won 19 of the total 44 golds, has been completed.

Australian weightlifter Francois Etoundi, who won the bronze medal in the 77-kilogram (170-pound) division on Sunday, was stripped of his games accreditation after being arrested over an alleged assault during an altercation in the athletes' village.

Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper described it as a "very serious incident" that was witnessed by many people in the village early Wednesday. The Cameroon-born Etoundi was due in court in Glasgow later Thursday.

"I made it clear I didn't want him back in the village when violent behaviour is asserted," Hooper said. "The games have to be safe and secure."

"It is a big village like a city that has developed over a very short period of time," Hooper said. "People have to respect each other's space and this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated."

On a tumultuous day for Australia, officials also had to deal with strife within the track and field team. Eric Hollingsworth, head coach of the athletics team, was ordered to return home as punishment for releasing an unauthorized statement criticizing Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson for not attending the team's pre-Glasgow training camp.

"We decided the appropriate action was to revoke his accreditation and he will fly home as soon as possible," Australia chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said.

"He understands the sanctions that have been imposed on him and he has his right to his own views and opinions on the matter. He's been open and honest with us, but he breached the team agreement set by the Australian Commonwealth Games Federation and that is like our bible to us."

Hollingsworth cut Pearson's funding for her Commonwealth Games preparations after she opted not to attend the athletics team's training camp in England, saying "her no-show sets a bad example to the entire national team."

Pearson, who won gold in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2011 world championships, was due to open the defence of her Commonwealth title later Thursday.

"She is focused on her performances and when I spoke to her last night she appeared to be no different from her normal self," Moneghetti said Thursday morning.

Australia's turmoil at the Commonwealth Games comes two years after a demoralizing London Olympics when the team endured its worst medal haul since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

An Australian rower was sent home from the 2012 Olympics after damaging two stores outside London.