Greg Hodge, the high-performance director of Australian Swimming has stepped down from his post for a position as head swimming coach of the United Arab Emirates.

Hodge, who took the position after Don Talbot resigned in 2001, has been at the center of an ongoing legal battle. Emma Fuller, one of Hodge's former swimmers who lived in his family's home for 14 months in the 1990s, has claimed to media sources that Hodge has had a 'sick obsession' with her since adolescence.

Highly regarded in Australian swimming, Hodge was founder of the Aquadot team Ian Thorpe called home until taking up with coach Tracy Menzies, and a large catalyst for the success of the New South Wales Institute of Sport program. Fuller swam with Hodge from the ages of 11 to 13, and says she gave up her dreams of being an Olympian after Hodge's alleged inappropriate behavior forced her to quit the sport.

Now 20, Fuller has stated that Hodge made repeated attempts to contact her, seven years after he was forbidden by her parents from doing so. Hodge has steadfastly denied these allegations, nonetheless, it has affected his working relationship with Australian Swimming.

In December, Hodge, 56, went on extended leave from his position while he attempted to resolve his legal issues. Australian Swimming elected to appoint Leigh Nugent as sole head coach in January, doing away with the former triumvirate of high performance director, head men's coach, and head women's coach.

Nugent's system appears to be working, as the Australian Olympic team sent to Athens put on the country's best swimming performance since the 1956 Melbourne Games. In all likelihood, Hodge's former position will be dissolved altogether. Nugent was only contracted for a year, and has yet to decide whether he will continue his position in 2005.

Hodge's first showing as head coach of the United Arab Emirates will be starting immediately as Dubai hosts the 7th Asian Swimming Championships, beginning this Thursday.