Jessica Hardy

August 11th, 2008 filed in Olympics, Swimming

Jessica Hardy is an American swimmer from Long Beach, California. She planned to compete in the Beijing Olympics in the Breaststroke. On July 23, 2008, an anonymous person told the Associated Press that Jessica Hardy’s “A” sample tested positive for a banned stimulant. Her attorney has since confirmed that her “A” and “B” samples from a test administered on July 4th were positive for clenbuterol, a banned stimulant. It has been noted that the positive test was sandwiched by two negative tests, each within a few days of the positive result.

On August 1, 2008, the USADA released a statement stating “The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today that U.S. Swimmer, Jessica Hardy, of Long Beach, CA, tested positive for the prohibited substance clenbuterol at the U.S. Olympic Trials on July 4, 2008, and has agreed to withdraw from the 2008 United States Olympic Team in the best interests of the team.” - Wikipedia

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5 Responses to “Jessica Hardy”

  1. 1
    Abigail Says:
    August 15th, 2008 at 9:22 am

    I think it is a shame that Jessica could not compete. From everything I have read, their is no indication from her family or her past that this is a valid test result. I think something is wrong with the testing procedures, and now she has missed out on a once in a lifetime opportunity.

  2. 2
    Rick Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 11:37 am

    Why not have an A, B and C sample. I know it would increase storage capacities, but a third sample would be the wildcard sample.

  3. 3
    Steve Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    A “Shame”? This is how it should work, 0 tolerance. If she tests positive, she is out. No excuses, no exceptions, no explanations or hearings. Kick them all out. We need to clean up our sports, and this is the only way to do it. I applaud them for keeping her out of the games.

  4. 4
    Omar Says:
    September 8th, 2008 at 9:23 am

    So what is the difference between Clenbuterol and the Asthma medication that Dara Torres is on? Seems to me like there are double standards in play here.

  5. 5
    Getting Real Says:
    September 26th, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    Clenbuterol is not approved for treating asthma (or any other condition) in the US. In sports, it is a banned drug, period. There are other drugs, including several used to treat asthma, for which athletes can apply *in advance* for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) that, if approved, allows them to then take those drugs legally. But Hardy did not apply for a TUE, and would not have been granted one for clenbuterol in any case. So this is very different than athletes who take asthma medication.

    As for having a “C” sample, both the “A” and “B” samples have to be positive for it to be considered a positive test, so a “C” would NOT be a tiebreaker. For the test in question, both Hardy’s A and B sample were positive. Hardy was tested multiple times at the Trials, and the other tests were negative. However, this is common for dopers, as they are trying to beat the system - there have been several admitted dopers who only tested positive once or twice of the many times they were tested.

    As for the notion that there is “no indication” from Hardy or her family or her past that this was a “valid test” — hello, that’s what they ALL say! Remember how Marion Jones, and her backers, totally denied any doping … until she confessed? It is the athlete’s responsibility to not test positive. If you do, you’re out. No excuses.

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