Australian swim star Shayna Jack has returned a positive test for a banned substance

After mysteriously pulling out of the World Championships, one of the stars of Australia’s swim team has tested positive for a banned substance.

The mystery surrounding Australian swim star Shayna Jack’s withdrawal from the team ahead of the World Championships in South Korea has been revealed.

The 20-year-old rising star has reportedly tested positive to a banned substance, an explosive finding following Mack Horton’s strong stance again China’s Sun Yang.

On Saturday night, her manager Phillip Stoneman revealed to the ABC the youngster did know what the banned substance was but hadn’t discussed it with her manager.

Stoneman also defended Jack’s decision not to go public with the test results to The Daily Telegraph, as to not impact the performance of her teammates at the World Championships in Gwangju.

“She’s not a drug taker, she’s not a cheat and she never has been and now she’s going to be accused of something she hasn’t done,” he said.

Despite the positive test, Stoneman said Jack still supported Horton’s stance.

Jack is believed to be in Brisbane — her case is still ongoing and no ban has yet been announced by FINA or WADA.

She responded to the “allegations” with a post on her Instagram page claiming she “did not take this substance knowingly”.

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, in this case a picture can not describe the amount of pain and vulnerability I am feeling right now. It is with great sadness and heartache that I had to leave due to allegations of having a prohibited substance in my system. I did NOT take this substance knowingly. 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. 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. I would appreciate if you respect my privacy as this is very hard for me to cope with,” she wrote.

Jack, 20, was a key to the Dolphins’ world record-breaking 4x100m freestyle relay team and was set to become a major cog of the 4x200m outfit at the eight-day world championships starting in Gwangju on Sunday.

However, eyebrows were raised when Jack announced she would not contest the titles just days ahead of the meet without any official confirmation from Swimming Australia.

Now the reason has become clear after a report from The Sunday Telegraph’s Amy Harris stated Jack flew home after being informed she had returned a positive test for an illegal substance.

SWIMMING AUSTRALIA STATEMENT ON JACK

Swimming Australia released a statement on Saturday night confirming Jack had been notified by ASADA of an “adverse test result”.

“Swimming Australia tonight confirmed that swimmer Shayna Jack has been notified by ASADA of an adverse test result following a routine out-of-competition drug test conducted by ASADA testers on June 26, 2019,” the statement read.

“Once Swimming Australia was made aware of the adverse test result it immediately took action — in accordance with the national policy — to provisionally suspend Shayna from the Australian Swim Team while a process was underway and accompanied her back to Australia from a training camp being held in Japan.

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

Former Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority CEO Richard Ings weighed in on the bombshell news.

“I see the hair splitting has already begun in comparisons between Sun Yang and Shayna Jack. One is not cleaner or dirtier than the other. In both cases we need to follow the same path. Innocent unless and until a tribunal rules otherwise,” Ings tweeted.

I see the hair splitting has already begun in comparisons between Sun Yang and Shayna Jack.

One is not cleaner or dirtier than the other.

In both cases we need to follow the same path. Innocent unless and until a tribunal rules otherwise.

— Richard Ings (@ringsau) July 27, 2019

He then pointed back to the post from Jack surrounding her withdrawal where she stated the withdrawal was “due to personal reasons”.

“A reminder of Shayna Jack’s withdrawal announcement on 14 July. We now know this was an untruth. The real reason, known at the time of this announcement, was she had been provisionally suspended for a positive A sample drug test. Athletes need to be frank from day one,” Ings said.

A reminder of Shayna Jack’s withdrawal announcement on 14 July.

We now know this was an untruth.

The real reason, known at the time of this announcement, was she had been provisionally suspended for a positive A sample drug test.

Athletes need to be frank from day one. pic.twitter.com/E1bPtfJJzZ

— Richard Ings (@ringsau) July 27, 2019

REACTION TO THE POSITIVE TEST

News of Jack’s failed test comes near the end of a world titles campaign in which Horton has caused international headlines for his anti-dopingstand against China’s Sun Yang.

Horton refused to join Sun on the podium after the Chinese star relegated him to 400m freestyle silver, sparking an internationalfurore.

Swimmers were angry Sun had been allowed to contest the titles ahead of a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in Septemberwhich might end the 11-time world champion’s career.

But now the spotlight has been shone on the Aussie camp after Jack’s positive test and sports reporter Bernie Coen didn’t hold back.

Sorry but the excuse that "I didn't intentionally take a banned substance" just doesn't wash these days. If you don't know what ur taking - DO NOT TAKE IT. Simple. WADA lists everything does it not @ringsau ??? #FINAGwangju2019 #shaynajack

— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) July 27, 2019

Australian swimmers take the moral high ground on #SunYang's past doping problem. But now Aussie swimmer Shayna Jack has been tested positive. But hey, let's keep that buried #FINA #FINAGwangju2019

— Hsin-Yi Lo (@hsinyilo) July 27, 2019

Mack Horton when he hears about Shayna Jack's positive doping test. pic.twitter.com/jYLyTl7DU6

— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) July 27, 2019

Aussie superstar Cate Campbell said the Dolphins reinforced the stance taken so publically by Horton.

“We stand for clean sport and I think the fact that Shayna isn’t here at the moment strengthens that stance,” she said.

“Once more information comes to light we can pass judgment, but at the moment the Australian team stands for clean sport and unfortunately that is why Shayna is not with it.”

— with AAP