American Jessica Hardy, one of the few swimmers capable of derailing Leisel Jones' push for double breaststroke gold at the Beijing Olympics, has tested positive to a banned substance.
Hardy's A sample from the recent US Olympic trials tested positive, a person familiar with the test results told The Associated Press tonight.
The person requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
The Swimming World magazine website first reported the positive doping test.
Mark Schubert, head coach and general manager of the US team, along with Hardy's agent and personal coach at the University of Southern California, could not immediately be reached for comment.
The website nbcolympics.com reported Hardy's backup B sample also tested positive.
If so, the 21-year-old swimmer can pursue appeals with the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Any ruling by CAS would be final and binding.
Hardy has qualified to swim the in the 100m breaststroke, the 50m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle relay in Beijing.
She held the 100m breaststroke world record until it was broken by Australian superstar Jones in 2006.
"I don't think if you had told me a month ago that I would make it in all three of these events that I would have believed you," Hardy said at the recent US trials.
"I'm expecting good things for sure."
Hardy burst onto the international scene at the 2005 world championships in Montreal, where she broke the world record in the 100m breaststroke.
