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Australian swimmer Shayna Jack is heading to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal a four-year ban recommended by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority's rule violation panel.
Key points:
- Australian swimmer Shayna Jack failed an out-of-competition drug test last June prior to the world championships in South Korea
- Jack said publicly that she did not take the banned substance — Ligandrol — knowingly
- An ASADA rule violation panel has recommended a four-year ban, which would keep her out of swimming until 2023
The 20-year old tested positive to the banned substance Ligandrol before last year's World Swimming Championships in South Korea.
ASADA has not named the swimmer on its list of sanctioned athletes and is not required to do so until 21 days after any appeal process has been finalised.
According to the anti-doping body's website: "We can publicly release information regarding an athlete's ban once a final determination has been made [pending any appeals] by the relevant sport or the Court of Arbitration for Sport."
Due to its anti-doping policy, Swimming Australia cannot publicly discuss any on-going matter.
The strict nature of anti-doping regulations means the sports body is unable to provide financial or legal support, effectively having to cut all ties with any suspended athlete.
Swimming Australia, though, has continued to provide mental wellbeing assistance.
The Ticket has confirmed Ms Jack has had to find a new lawyer after Melbourne-based Paul Horvath excused himself from the case in the past week and has been replaced by Brisbane-based Tim Fuller — both experienced sports lawyers familiar with anti-doping cases.
It is possible a CAS appeal hearing could be held by mid to late April.
If a clear-cut decision is reached in favour of the athlete, she could potentially still qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Swimming Australia's Olympic trials are set down for Adelaide June 14-16.
Topics: sport, swimming, doping-in-sports, olympics-summer, australia