THE Irish Olympic swimming champion, Michelle Smith, has been reminded that future unavailability for out of competition drug testing could lead to sanctions by the sport's international governing body.
Ms Smith was found to be unavailable for a random test in Ireland on October 13th last year, and a similar incident had occurred in 1995. The Irish Amateur Swimming Association received a reminder from the international body, FINA, on January 16th that the swimmer must be available at all times for future random tests.
"Sanctions may be imposed on swimmers who are reported unavailable for testing more than two times," the message from FINA said. The Irish association forwarded the message to Ms Smith by fax.
The international swimming authority also expressed concern at the vagueness of details provided by Ms Smith about her training locations for the first quarter of this year and her failure to fill out a daily calendar of her training schedule. Ms Smith responded by providing more detailed information.
Ms Smith is believed to be one of about 50 international swimmers who may face severe sanctions, including suspension, if found to be unavailable for out of competition drug testing in the future.
Contacted in Dublin this week for comment, Ms Smith referred all inquiries about testing to her firm of solicitors, Lennon Heather & Co. Her solicitor, Mr Peter Lennon, said he had "no comment" to make on Mr Smith's out of competition testing.
Ms Smith was found to be unavailable for an out of competition test in Ireland on October 13th last when the testing unit called to her supplied address in Celbridge, Co Kildare. She is believed to have been in the US on the 13th and apparently returned on October 15th.
Under rules introduced immediately prior to the Olympic Games in Atlanta last summer, swimmers are liable to a suspension of up to four years should they be found to be unavailable on more than two occasions for out of competition testing.
The governing body rulebook states: "If FINA attempts to conduct unannounced out of competition testing but is twice unable to locate a competitor at the address - or location provided to FINA for such purposes, FINA shall send - notice regarding the situation to both the competitor and his or her federation, requesting more detailed information as to the competitor's schedule. If the competitor cannot be located thereafter for a doping control test, the competitor may be considered to have refused to submit to doping control."
Such a refusal is regarded by FINA as equivalent to a positive test for the purposes of applying sanctions.
Ms Smith was previously found to be unavailable for testing during the second quarter of 1995, the year in which she made her breakthrough on the international swimming scene, winning two gold medals at the European championships. Ms Smith has, never failed a drugs test.