Aussie doping scandal: Shayna Jack tests positive to prohibited substance

A week after a series of stunning anti-doping protests against China, it can be revealed Aussie swimmer Shayna Jack — who mysteriously ‘withdrew’ from the World Championships in South Korea — was sent home after failing a drug test.

• Editorial: Every sports cheat must pay
• Mack v Sun: Tide turning as swimmers take on FINA
• ‘She’s not a drug taker. She’s no cheat’

The Australian swimmer dumped from the team after failing a drug test is “shocked and vulnerable” and fears she will cop an international backlash because of the team’s anti-doping war with China.

Shayna Jack, who mysteriously “withdrew” from the World Championships in South Korea, actually tested positive for a prohibited substance and was suspended and sent home.

Jack, a freestyle prodigy who shares a coach with superstar Ariarne Titmus, returned an ­abnormal “A sample” during routine testing at a pre-championships training camp in Cairns a fortnight ago.

Australian swimmer Shayna Jack tested positive to a prohibited substance. Picture: AAP/Matt Roberts

The revelation comes after a week of stunning anti-doping protests against China, during which Jack’s teammate Mack Horton refused to share the medal podium with Chinese megastar Sun Yang. Jack initially attrib­uted her departure from the squad to “personal reasons”.

However, the 20-year-old from Brisbane finally confirmed the positive test result yesterday after being contacted by The Sunday Telegraph but claimed she did not ­ingest a banned substance “knowingly”.

MORE SPORT:

Horton enjoys sweet revenge over cocky Sun

Sun tries to pull heart strings with impassioned defence

Jack last night feared she would be judged more harshly because of the battle between Horton and Sun Yang.

“She’s vulnerable, she’s devastated,” manager Phil Stoneman told The Sunday Telegraph.

“She supports Mack in his situation, she certainly understands his position but she feels she’s now going to be tarnished with somebody else.”

Jack maintains she did nothing wrong.

“Swimming has been my passion since I was 10 years old and I would never intentionally take a banned substance that would disrespect my sport and jeopardise my career,” she said earlier. “Now there is an ongoing ­investigation and my team and I are doing everything we can to find out when and how this substance has come into contact with my body.”

Australia's swimmers (from left) Emma McKeon, Shayna Jack, Cate Campbell and Emily Seebohm after their 400m Freestyle Relay women final win at Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in 2018. Picture: Martin Bureau/AFP

The revelation casts serious doubt over the transparency of Swimming Australia’s hierarchy given that, at the time of Jack’s withdrawal on July 14, Aussie ­assistant coach Michael Bohl ­declared the matter “a mystery”.

SA insists the rest of the team did not know until yesterday and Jack, who had qualified for the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays, said she didn’t want to go public because she was worried about the impact on the team’s performances.

“She would have liked to have come out with this but she would have preferred to have waited because she didn’t want to take away from the achievements,” Stoneman said.

“She’s not a drug taker, she’s not a cheat and never has been.”

Jack after winning the women's 200m freestyle at the World Swimming Trials at the Brisbane on June 11 this year. Picture: AAP/Darren England

Shayna Jack said she didn’t ‘knowingly’ take the prohibited substance. Picture: Instagram

Jack and Swimming Australia are now waiting on the results of the tests on the ‘B’ sample, which will determine punishment, if any.

Jack’s coach, South African-born Dean Boxall, was not commenting yesterday, although he is still with the Australian team in Korea. Boxall is considered to be a “rock star” coach.

Swimming Australia confirmed Jack has been notified by of an adverse test result following a routine out-of-competition drug test conducted on June 26, 2019.

In a statement, SA said it immediately took action — in accordance with the national policy — to provisionally suspend Jack from the Australian Swim Team while a process was under way, and accompanied her back to Australia from a training camp being held in Japan.

Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell.

The Swimming Australia policy means that any Australian athlete under provisional suspension while investigations are under way cannot take part in any competition, meaning Shayna was unable to travel to Gwangju to compete at the 2019 World Championships.

Under the specific legislation governing Australia’s drug testing regime, Swimming Australia is notified of any adverse test result, as is WADA and FINA. Under the process, all details are required to remain confidential until has completed its investigations, the athlete is afforded due process and an outcome determined.

Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell said the organisation would continue to provide appropriate support for Jack, who is entitled to a fair process, but Swimming Australia remained clear on its approach to any performance enhancing drugs.

“Swimming Australia is and always has been committed to a clean sport. We have consistently supported a zero-tolerance approach to doping, and have been strong supporters of a rigorous and consistent approach to drug testing both here and overseas,” Ms Russell said.

“Under our system, if a swimmer returns an adverse test they are automatically given a provisional suspension and stopped from competing until such time as the process is complete and an outcome determined.

“As you would expect, we are bitterly disappointed with allegations a swimmer has a prohibited substance in her system, although it is important to point out that the matter is yet to be determined.

“We will continue to provide appropriate support for Shayna.

“We will also provide support for our team members who are still in Korea, and our team and our organisation will continue to reaffirm our zero-tolerance approach.”