FINA washes hands of scandal
SWIMMING’S world governing body has denied leaking the news of Shayna Jack’s positive test results as a payback for Mack Horton’s protests against Sun Yang but reminded everyone in Australia that FINA can appeal if it doesn’t agree with the final decision in her case.
FINA was unimpressed by Horton’s refusal to join Sun on the medal podium after the 400m freestyle medal ceremony so FINA’S executive director Cornel Marculescu took matters into his own hands.
He went and sought out the Australian coaches and told them to pull Horton back into line and it worked. Two days later, Horton said he wasn’t making any more comments on doping, though Swimming Australia denies gagging him.
Sun is like a cash cow for FINA because of the huge sponsorship and commercial deals he generates in China.
Marculescu confirmed FINA was among organisations who were notified about Jack’s adverse sample findings but said FINA did not leak the results.
“We didn’t say anything,” he said. “This was a test conducted by the Australia AntiDoping Authority (ASADA).”
While Swimming Australia has been slammed for not confirming Jack’s test results until they were leaked, Marculescu offered some faint praise.
He said Swimming Australia had done everything by the rule book.
“They ( ASADA) have to continue with the procedure,” he said. “If the decision is not according to our rules we can appeal to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport).”
While Swimming Australia made a mess of Jack’s test announcement, and have been accused of a cover up, the fact they suspended Jack and sent her home the moment they were notified about her positive A sample is proof Australia is tough on doping.
One of the reasons behind the protests against Sun was that China allowed him to compete at the World Championships even though he is awaiting an appeal after he was left off with a warning when he smashed his blood samples with a hammer before they could be tested for drugs.
Jack’s coach Dean Boxall said he remained baffled by the test result because all his swimmers, including Ariarne Titmus, were so careful with what they digest they don’t even take vitamin supplements.
“We’ve got massively strict processes and procedures in place,” he said. “They get trained by ASADA so they know what they go through and Shayna is incredibly strict.
“Shayna left immediately. She’s not here, she’s not competing.
“If she competed, how many medals do we lose? She left immediately we followed the process. The process was put in place to the tee and it was performed.”