LOS ANGELES(AP)
Swimmer Jessica Hardy's trip to the Beijing Olympics could
be in jeopardy after testing positive for a banned substance,
according to a person familiar with the test results.
Hardy's "A" sample from the recent U.S. Olympic
trials tested positive, the person told The Associated Press on
Wednesday night. The person requested anonymity because he was not
authorized to speak publicly.
The Swimming World magazine Web site first reported the positive
doping test.
Mark Schubert, head coach and general manager of the U.S. team,
along with Hardy's agent and personal coach at Southern
California did not immediately return phone messages left by the
AP.
The Web site nbcolympics.com reported Hardy's backup
"B" sample also tested positive.
If so, the 21-year-old swimmer from Long Beach can pursue
appeals with the American Arbitration Association and the Court of
Arbitration for Sport. Any ruling by CAS would be final and
binding.
Hardy's name was among the 596 athletes officially entered
into the Beijing Games on Wednesday by the U.S. Olympic
Committee.
Hardy earned spots on her first Olympic team in her best event,
the 100-meter breaststroke, and the 50 freestyle and 400 free
relay.
"I don't think if you had told me a month ago that I
would make it in all three of these events that I would have
believed you," she said at the trials. "I'm expecting
good things for sure."
Hardy burst onto the international scene at the 2005 world
championships in Montreal, where she broke the world record in the
100 breast. Her time still stands as the American record.
She swam at California for two seasons, winning the 100 breast
at the 2006 and 2007 NCAA championships before turning pro. She
trains at USC with coach Dave Salo.
In Beijing, Hardy was expected to be a medal threat in the 100
breast, and to play an important part on the 400 free relay, and
possibly the 400 medley relay.
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