FINA Exec Marculescu Says There Are 2 More Athletes With Open Doping Cases

As the ongoing case regarding Australian sprint star Shayna Jack‘s positive doping test unfolds, additional details concerning other cases may soon be coming to light.

According to various media sources, including The South China Morning Post, FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu says that Jack is not the only swimmer currently being investigated for doping. Marculescu says that there are ‘another two’ with cases opened on them.

Per news.com.au, Marculescu said the other two cases were not Australian athletes but he gave no further details and did not specify whether they were related to the World Championships.

We will publish updates on any additional cases as soon as we know more information.

On Jack, the 20-year-old tested positive for banned substance Ligandrol and is facing a possible 4-year ban unless something comes to light while her case is investigated. Below is the timing on the major milestones involving Jack’s positive test.

  • June 26th – Date of the doping test.
  • July 14th – Via her personal Instagram account, Jack announces her shock withdrawal from the World Championships, despite having traveled and practicing with the Aussie squad at their staging camp.
  • July 27th – Again via her personal Instagram account, Jack, reveals her positive doing test, but does not explain the substance involved, nor the fact that both the A and B samples were positive.
  • July 27th – Swimming Australia releases an official comment on Jack, but does not disclose the substance involved. CEO Leigh Russell stated,  “under the specific legislation governing Australia‘s drug-testing regime, Swimming Australia is notified of any adverse test result as is WADA and FINA. Under the process, all details are required to remain confidential until ASADA has completed its investigations, the athlete is afforded due process and an outcome determined.”
  • July 28th – Jack announces via Instagram that she tested positive for Ligandrol. Also known as selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) LGD-4033, was originally developed for the treatment of muscle wasting conditions such as aging, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy and cancer, is promoted as a selective non-steroidal anabolic agent. (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority).
  • July 28th – Former ASADA head Richard Ings questions the handling of informing the public by Swimming Australia, saying “If Swimming Australia is suggesting that their anti-doping policy, approved by ASADA, forbids them from announcing the Jack provisional suspension, they are wrong.”
    • Aussie Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren also speaks, saying, “We are not trying to cover anything up. We don’t play a game. She’s [Jack] not here [in Gwangju] and it shows that the Australian system works.”
  • July 29th – Jack suspended from ISL pending outcome of anti-doping proceedings.

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Anonymous
5 years ago

There has been research studies done on asthma inhalers. There is no performance benefit for an athlete with normal lung airways. Also some people who are not asthmatic may use an inhaler for a chronic cough or bronchitis

Snarky
5 years ago

Cornel stopped counting the money for a moment to comment. Comment over, back to counting the money. Cc: zaleski and neuberger

13 % Chinese person
5 years ago

Id like to see all world & olympic medallists provide their TUE & asthma meds use for the past 12 months . Lining them up on the table at the press conference will give the public a better idea of drug use in swimming .

If ppl have not won a medal then its not important , so most privacy isdues are not a concern ie we don’t care but what does it take to be a very top swimmer . Are they all equipped with poor respiratory systems as seems with all the asthma ? Are they worse than Norway with its 6,700 TUE approved doseages in winter olympics 2018 ? Can we compare their meds from year… Read more »

Bob
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
5 years ago

MacNeil took 6 breaths in her 50 fly so there might be some truth to that. I’m sure some abuse TUEs but I’m also sure some need them so it’s difficult to differentiate who is in what group.

Troy
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
5 years ago

Out of curiosity I had a look at some guidelines WADA has for asthma TUEs and I found it really interesting that an athlete can have lung function exceeding a normal person (which in most cases you would expect from elite athletes) and still qualify for a TUE for asthma medications:

“However, many elite athletes have levels of lung function above normal predicted values and therefore normal lung function may still represent a sign of airway obstruction, and a reversibility test is recommended. An increase of at least 12% and 200 ml in FEV1 following the use of an inhaled beta-2 agonist is the standard diagnostic test for the reversibility of airway obstruction.”

https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/tuec_asthma_version6.1.pdf… Read more »

Yozhik
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
5 years ago

If everybody in competition are asthmatic then why do you care. It’s still a fair competition if they use same drug. We don’t want to see swimming competition becoming a competition between pharmaceutical companies. If being determined asthmatic that simple then do it and stop complaining. If it is not easy to fake it then I don’t understand your point.

Troy
5 years ago

So how is it Swimming Australia is being torn to pieces for not wanting the news of Shayna doping violation made public until after the world championships and yet these 2 cases are still not public? What a joke.

John
5 years ago

Yang and his doctor, round 3?

NJones
5 years ago

I wonder about the process for informing since the ‘investigation’ prior to ‘sentencing’ has not occurred yet. What is the time line for such sentencing of a ban? A young athlete’s name is being dragged thru the mud and this will stick with her for a long time. If she’s ultimately guilty and aimed to cheat then so be it, if she’d not then she’s paid a huge personal penalty thru the court of public opinion and commentary. My question is why can’t this remain anonymous until FINA or WADA has completed the investigation?
If it’s a many month process then I guess there has to be a statement at some point. However I have no issue with it… Read more »

Wondering
5 years ago

Is the first name Sun or the last name Yang, by chance?

ted
Reply to  Wondering
5 years ago

There’s a swimmer with first name Sun and last name Yang? News to me. And somebody actually gave you thumbs up.

Dee
5 years ago

Did he say of they swam at Worlds? There were a few swimmers who very suddenly pulled out of Euros last year and no explanation was given. Werent seen for months after that either. Surely it wouldnt drag on this long though… My gut is that they’re from countries or a country with ‘loyal’ press.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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