Australian Shayna Jack’s positive drugs test is an absolute disaster

Mack Horton must now be feeling incredibly let down by his Australian team management.

Australia's Shayna Jack has failed a drug test.

Swimming Australia, Mack Horton and the Australian coaches has been trapped in the perfect Catch 22 after stunning revelation today that Shanya Jack was sent home from the Australian team because she had tested positive to a proscribed drug.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that Jack, one of the rising sprint stars of the Australian team, a former training partner of the Campbell sisters and now coached by the same man who coaches Ariarne Titmus, Dean Boxall, had been sent home from Japan for returning an adverse finding to a A sample.

Initially, her departure was attributed to “personal reasons” and there was even a whisper, no doubt designed to throw off the pursuing media, that she was suffering from mental problems.

The following statement was released today by Swimming Australia chief executive Leigh Russell:

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.

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.

Shayna Jack may find herself all on her own.

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 ASADA 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 Shayna, 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 ASADA 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.”

But as at a time when the in-pool performances of the Australian team were starting to suggest the dawn of a new golden age, Jack’s positive – which now will require validation from the B sample – is an absolute disaster.

Mack Horton’s public protest against China’s Sun Yang now leaves him in an awkward position.

In a classic example of why people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, it now paints Horton into a corner. He campaigned vigorously against Sun Yang for his drug history and against FINA for going soft on drug cheats. Now, according to his definition, Jack is a “drug cheat” and must be treated accordingly. The International Swimmers League has a rule that imposes a life ban on anyone who has returned a positive test, which means there will be no cash bonanza in Jack’s future if the B sample tests in the same way as the A one did.

The swimmers were kept in the dark, too, apparently, about the reasons for Jack’s departure and it raises the question of whether Horton have made his spectacularly public stand had he known a team-mate had just tested positive? He now must be feeling incredibly let down by his Australian team management.

So too the Australian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association who also took a long handle to drug cheats, recommending life bans for them. They, too, must now be reconsidering their stance.

Bronte Campbell, Cate Campbell, Shayna Jack and Emma McKeon won gold for the 4x100m Freestyle atthe Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

When Samantha Riley tested positive to a banned substance back in the 1990s, Swimming Australia rallied around her. But if Australia’s strong anti-drug stance is to be seen as anything more than mere tough talking, Jack seemingly will now be on her own. All the reassurances and support that Riley received will now be denied to her.

Or….

Or Australia can rally around Jack and attempt to fight a drug positive she insists she cannot explain and blow its own anti-drugs position out of the water.

It is a bewildering and stunning development and in the coming days the wisdom of not taking the media into its confidence and explaining the real reason for Jack’s departure will be scrupulously dissected.

This is the start of the worst time in the history of Australian swimming.