Olympian from Long Beach reportedly tests positive for banned substance

Reports are filtering out that Jessica Hardy, a Wilson High grad who qualified for her first Olympic team earlier this year, has left the U.S. national team's training camp in Palo Alto after testing positive for a banned substance. But her agent calls the test results inconsistent and says the swimmer swears she did nothing wrong. Lisa Dillman has details:

Swimmer Jessica Hardy, who qualified for the Olympics in multiple events, has allegedly tested positive for a banned substance, according to reports.

NBCOlympics.com said that both her A and B samples have come back positive and that the substance was believed to be a stimulant.

She was tested at the U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha last month, and a penalty for a doping offense can result in a two-year ban.

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Hardy's agent, Evan Morgenstein, said she told him that she didn't do anything wrong and did not cheat.

"I'm very, very concerned about the confusion of her test coming up positive-negative-positive," Morgenstein told the Associated Press. "She's the one person I would never believe would do anything -- anything -- to cheat. Ever."

Reports suggest the substance is clenbuterol, a prescription drug for breathing disorders such as asthma. More in Lisa's full story here. Also in the Press-Telegram and NBC Olympics.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Getty Images