Buffalo Boy's Blog

The last thing the US Swim Team needed heading into Bejing was this. Jessica Hardy tested positive for an anabolic drug. Its a drug called Clenbuterol. It is used for breathing disorders as a bronchodilator. It does however act as a stimulant and can mirror the effects of ephedrine. It is also used as a weight loss aid. Though not an anabolic steroid, it does have anabolic qualities.

Look, Im not saying she is right or wrong yet, the system will have to determine that, but this is a drug that may be used in certain instances and if its being used for say, Asthma and was simply overlooked, shouldn't she be allowed to swim? Maybe there is a perfectly logical explanation as to why there was traces of it in her system. Shes a great talent, a great person and is probably one of the least likely on this team to be doing something like this.

It was also reported that her test came up negative-positive-negative, so there could be some issue as to whether her test was mishandled. All this does is put a cloud over the rest of the team, especially those such as Michael Phelps and Dara Torres. But don't judge them just yet, they signed up for the US Anti Doping Agency's pilot program in which they provide samples before during and after and they are saved to be tested down the road as testing catches up with the illegal stuff.