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Olympic odds: Potential blow for U.S. swimming team
By Jordan WaltersWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
| Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook |
American Jessica Hardy, who qualified for three swimming events in the upcoming Beijing Games, reportedly tested positive for a banned substance and could face expulsion from the U.S. team.
Hardy earned spots on her first Olympic team in her best event, the 100-meter breaststroke, and the 50 freestyle and 400 free relay. In Beijing, she 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.
Hardy's "A" sample from the recent U.S. Olympic trials tested positive, according to Associated Press. Swimming World magazine first reported the positive doping test on its Web site. Another Web site, nbcolympics.com, reported that Hardy's backup "B" sample also tested positive.
Hardy has left the team's training camp at Stanford and returned home to be with her family in Southern California, said the swimmer's agent, Evan Morgenstein. Morgenstein said Hardy told him, "I never did anything wrong. I never cheated."
Morgenstein said he was told that Hardy had two negative results sandwiched around a positive sample. He did not have further details.
"I'm very, very concerned about the confusion of her test," Morgenstein said. "She's the one person I would never believe would do anything — anything — to cheat. Ever."
Hardy can pursue appeals with the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport but only has two weeks now to do so. Typically, a first-time doping offense results in a two-year ban.
If Hardy is banned, however, she might not be replaced on the U.S. team because the deadline to do so was Monday, although Team USA could petition the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee to replace a banned swimmer.
Hardy is the only other person besides Aussie Leisel Jones to have held the world record in the 100-meter breaststroke in the past five years.
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