Sport

Aussie doping scandal: Swimmer Shayna Jack tests positive for banned substance

Jul 28, 2019

Shayna Jack was forced to pull out of the world championships after failing a doping test. Source: Getty and Instagram/Shayna Jack.

Aussie swimmer Shayna Jack has admitted she’s filled with “pain and vulnerability” after it was revealed she was forced to pull out of the World Championships for failing a doping test.

And the scandal has divided the swimming world, with some competitors branding her a “drug cheat” while others have supported her, as she insists she took the drug unknowingly.

Jack pulled out of the South Korea championships just days before it started, citing “personal reasons” at the time. However, it has now been revealed it came after she tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended.

The news comes as a further blow to fans as it threatens to disrupt the Australian team’s very firm stance against athletes taking drugs, which they have been incredibly vocal about in the past.

Breaking her silence on social media over the shock revelations, Jack shared a sombre photo and admitted she’s finding everything “very hard to cope with”.

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She wrote: “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.”

She went on to insist she did not take the substance knowingly and added: “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 revealed an investigation has been launched to try and find out how the substance may have made its way into her body.

Despite her protests, the revelations have sparked serious backlash from some swimmers, with US breaststroke champion Lilly King branding her a “drug cheat”.

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“She [Jack] is a drug cheater,” King told reporters, according to the Mail Online.

And four-time world champion Chad le Clos has even claimed swimmers should be banned for life for doping, according to 7 News.

“I’m not sure what the case is but my stance is always the same. If you test positive you shouldn’t be allowed to swim,” he said.

“Anybody that takes PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) shouldn’t be allowed to swim, simple.”

Meanwhile Australian team leader Cate Campbell insisted she had no knowledge of Jack’s failed test until news broke.

“All I knew before is that it was a personal matter and we were respecting her privacy,” she said, according to the Mail Online.”I think that we have to respect the process. We stand for clean sport and I think the fact that Shayna isn’t here at the moment strengthens that stance.”

Jack’s manager Phil Stoneman has spoken out in her defence since, telling the Sunday Telegraph: “She’s not a drug taker, she’s not a cheat and never has been.”

And Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell has since described the incident as “embarrassing”.

“I do want to say that while an Australian athlete returning an adverse result is both bitterly disappointing and embarrassing to our team, our sport and our country, it does not in any way change the zero tolerance view that Swimming Australia has and our continuing fight for a clean sport,” she told reporters.

However she added: “We’re not expecting a quick resolution to this process.”

The news comes as a particular blow given how vocal the Australian swimming team have been about drug-taking in the sports recently.

Just days ago, Mack Horton sparked a fierce debate after refusing to share the podium with accused drug cheat Sun Yang, despite finishing second behind his rival in the world championships.

China’s Sun beat Horton to the top spot in the 400m freestyle by 0.73 of a second, making it his fourth-consecutive 400-metres freestyle title.

However, when it came time for the top three to share the podium, Horton chose to stand behind it as Sun took the middle spot.

Sun, who was suspended for three months for doping in 2014, is currently waiting to appear later this year at a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing after facing allegations of doping rule violations, the ABC reports.

Asked how he felt after Sun’s win at the time, Horton told reporters: “Frustration. I think you know in what respect.”

“I don’t think I need to say anything,” he added. “His actions and how it has been handled speaks louder than anything I could say.”

The latest scandal has divided Jack’s followers on social media, with one commenting: “AUSTRALIA is a nation of cheats!!” while another simply added: “Drug cheat.”

However many more supported her, with one writing: “Aus is behind you shayna, good luck,” and one wrote: “Shayna, whatever has happened, you are more than this one thing. This will pass. Switch off all social media and spend time with people who know you and love you. A lot of loud mouths will have opinions. You are more than this.”