Top Aussie swimmer's legal fight against drug ban takes new turn

SYDNEY -- The drawn-out case of one of Australia's top female swimmers, who is fighting a two-year ban from competing, reached a new stage on Thursday with the announcement of a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing date being set for next month.

Shayna Jack, who is a member of the Australian relay team that holds the 4x100m freestyle world record and a medallist at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, tested positive for the banned substance ligandrol, an anabolic agent, during a doping test in June 2019 and was subsequently suspended by Swimming Australia.

Jack, 22, who has already spent more than 100,000 Australian dollars (about $77,320) trying to clear her name, is expected to defend herself via video link during her appeal hearing before a panel of three arbiters on June 28 and 29.

The swimmer from the state of Queensland has always maintained that she did not intentionally cheat and has publicly spoken about the mental and financial toll the ban has had on her.

Jack is prevented from joining the Olympic team because her suspension ends weeks after the Australian trials for Tokyo, which will be held in the South Australian capital of Adelaide from June 12-17.

She was allowed to resume full training last week but faces the risk of being kicked out of the pool again if she loses her appeal.

Whatever the outcome, the verdict is not expected until well after the Tokyo Olympics.