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LOS ANGELES -- Jessica Hardy's first trip to the Olympics could be over before it began. The swimmer tested positive for a banned substance, leaving her just two weeks to pursue any appeals before the Beijing Games.
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Hardy's "A" sample from the recent U.S. Olympic trials tested positive, a person familiar with the test results told the Associated Press on Wednesday night. The person, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the banned substance was a stimulant but did not provide any other details.
In Beijing, Hardy was expected to be a medal threat in the 100-meter breaststroke, and to play an important part on the U.S. 400-meter free relay team, and possibly the 400 medley relay.
USA Swimming spokeswoman Jamie Olson declined to comment from the team's training camp at Palo Alto, Calif., where Hardy left to return to her family's home in Southern California, the swimmer's agent said.
Agent Evan Morgenstein told the AP that during a brief phone conversation with Hardy, she told him, "I never did anything wrong. I never cheated."
Morgenstein said he was told that Hardy had two negative results sandwiched around a positive sample. He did not have further details.
"I'm very, very concerned about the confusion of her test," Morgenstein said. "She's the one person I would never believe would do anything -- anything -- to cheat. Ever."
Swimming World magazine's website first reported the positive doping test. The website nbcolympics.com reported Hardy's backup "B" sample also tested positive.
If she chooses, the 21-year-old swimmer can pursue appeals with the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. With just two weeks to spare, Hardy could appeal directly to CAS, whose ruling would be final and binding.
Typically, a first-time doping offense results in a two-year ban.
Hardy earned spots on her first Olympic team in her best event, the 100 breast, and the 50 freestyle and 400 free relay.
"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," she said at the trials. "I'm expecting good things for sure."
Mark Schubert, head coach and general manager of the U.S. team, and Dave Salo, Hardy's personal coach at Southern California, did not return phone messages left by the AP.
The U.S. squad departs Friday for a pre-Olympic training camp in Singapore.
Hardy's name was among the 596 athletes officially entered into the Beijing Games on Wednesday by the U.S. Olympic Committee. If Hardy appeals and loses, the U.S. could not add to its swimming roster because the deadline to do so was July 21.
That might leave 41-year-old Dara Torres in the 50 free and Megan Jendrick in the 100 breast as the sole American entrants in those events. It was not immediately clear if the U.S. could move a second swimmer already on the team into those events.
Hardy burst onto the international scene at the 2005 world championships in Montreal, where she broke the world record in the 100 breast. Her time of 1 minute, 6.20 seconds still stands as the American record.
She swam at California for two seasons, winning the 100 breast at the 2006 and 2007 NCAA championships before turning pro.
