A late Jessica Hardy update

Jessica Hardy's lawyer, Howard Jacobs, sent over a statement Friday night that outlines their plan of action. Here's what it says:

Jessica Hardy has cooperated fully with USADA since its notice to her on July 21 that she tested positive for a very low level of clenbuterol, a banned substance, during the Olympic Trials. Based upon information obtained as recently as today, August 1, she accepts the fact that the testing was properly done and the results properly reported. She sadly accepts the fact that this necessarily means she will not be able to compete in the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, and faces a possible two-year suspension of eligibility.

Jessica did not knowingly or intentionally take any banned substances. Active investigations are being conducted to determine the source of this very low level of clenbuterol. Following completion of this investigation, Jessica will seek to have her period of suspension reduced substantially. It is anticipated that a hearing on this issue will take place within the next several months.

Jessica is heartbroken at this turn of events, as making the U.S. Olympic Team was her cherished dream and proudest moment. She intends to resume her swimming career as soon as possible, and to again fulfill her Olympic dream in 2012. She thanks her many teammates, fans, and friends who have been so supportive during this difficult time. Their faith in her was justified and she will soon give them more reason to be proud of her and her accomplishments.

-- Lisa Dillman

Photo: Jessica Hardy after finishing the women's 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha on July 1. Credit: Armando Arorizo/Bloomberg News

Comments

[Lori]

Only Jessica really knows the truth. But the facts are - and will remain THE FACTS as to what was found in her system during this Olympic trials FOREVER. Intolerably so. Unethically so. And ever so unsportsmanlike of Ms. Hardy and Ms. Hardy alone. I find the absence of any sincere remorse at all as to the punitive consequences Ms. Hardy's banned substance has now trickled down wrongfully upon completely innocent Tara Kirk and Lara Jackson also intolerable in every sence - in regard to there purposefully being no mention of either of these wronged swimmers in this carefully crafted statement of Jessica Hardy's paid legal representative. Oh the humanity, Jessica - and/or lack of it.

[Damurph]

You know something, they found low levels of the banned substance in her system, but that does not mean you can convict her of wrongdoing. Many things could have caused this. She is innocent before proven guilty, so dont be so quick to judge.

How would you like to be called a cheater before having a chance to defend yourself. What if she ate at a restaurant and got this in her system?? There are so many things that could be behind this. Do unto others as you would like done to you!

Yes she should not be allowed to compete, but lets let the system determine what happened and give this young lady a chance to get her side of the story out.

THANKS

[Quigg]

There are trace elements of banned substances in Dunkin Donuts, health drinks and vitamins. Be a little careful before all the evidence is out. Would it make a difference to Lori if she knew Jessica passed three lie detector tests?

What If those tests proved she did not knowingly take any banned substance but ingested a mega-vitamin complex from China?

Those who reach quick verdicts demonstrate their lack of analytical and complex thinking skills. Ask any honest lawyer or judge you know who has sat in on complicated murder, rape, arson or other type cases, if they have ever had a case where the evidence seemed obvious and condemning but later when all the facts became known, it became clear that the early evidence was incomplete and had led them to the wrong conclusion.

[Lori]

I am not the "issue" here - nor is anyone else asked to dissect the information we have been allowed to know to date. What we do know is Jessica Hardy is NOT contesting the test itself - nor the positive results - twice over. Just stuck with trying (somehow) to seek "answers" as to how this absolutely and totally banned substance got into her system. Let her do so - until time immorium. That will matter little if at all to the powers that be - on the anti-doping committee nor to Tara Kirk and Lara Jackson. Jessica Hardy remains the only one ultimately responsible for ANYTHING she put into her system. And as such for this college educated elite athlete to ingest ANYTHING during the OLYMPIC trials that might have been considered "suspect" was highly risky and unethical of her - and her alone. Again - not my issue. Jessica's issue. And of course, now and forevermore unfortunately Tara's and Lara's, too. Let's just see and hear Jessica Hardy admit that much. Let's just see...

[damurph]

Lori the whole thing stinks no doubt. It stinks for all. But you cant accuse before you know the facts. What if she ate something that was tainted? You dont know so embittered blogs dont help anybody Lori. That is what I think. You are making this personal and perhaps should give things a chance to come out in a hopefully "objective" process.

I think Jessica has admitted that she took supplements and that the test results were accurate.

If you are a swimmer focus your anger on your training and you may frickin break all the records!!! Seriously I wish you well and all, especially the team in China.

[Lori]

Ah - damurp - again you are somehow making ME the focus, when that is the farthest relevant point to all of this. You have some serious anger issue in not allowing the puiblic to advance and express their very own opinions on this mess. And we all are entitled to our opinions - as to the facts known. Whether or not future "facts" will come to light that help any of us appreciate how in the heck Jessica could have chosen to do what she did is another thing. I doubt they will - assist in any "defense" of her actions however. Again - whether or not her ingestion of this banned substance was deliberate or "inadvertant" she still - and her actions of choice will - place her in the category of a dirty cheating athlete. Forever. Lesson learned to truly CLEAN athletes: eat healthy, train hard and trust yourself and your pure athletic abilities enough to never, ever falll into the weak belief that a "supplement", any SUPPLEMENT will turn you into a "winner. Farthest thing from it is what resulted in the end for Jessica Hardy. Forever.

[Robert Hornby]

Lori you are being far to quick to judge when you do not have all the facts, pretty much all professional athletes take supplements, there taken to support their diets, not to make them winners! So if she was unlucky enough to get a tainted supplement it's not her fault! It could of happened to any athlete in the world!...what do you expect her to do? test all her foods for banned substances before she eats them? I doubt she'd have much time left for training then!

And more to the point I really really doubt she took these illegal substances, because if she took them she would have known she'd get caught! Its pretty obvious! and another point is that the amount she ingested was so low it actually would have barely had any effect at all on her swimming, so any performances she got on swimming while it was in her system were achieved by her and not the stimulant.