Reports that traces of artificially-produced testosterone have been discovered in the urine of triple Olympic swimming champion Michelle de Bruin have been dismissed by her lawyer as the latest attempt to discredit her.
Mr Peter Lennon said in Dublin that they were a further indication that the International Olympic Committee and others were trying by the use of "evil rumour and innuendo" to ensure his client never swam competitively again.
He said he would be issuing legal proceedings against the IOC and Reuters news agency, which yesterday alleged the test had found evidence of artificially-produced hormone. The report appeared initially in the French sports newspaper L'Equipe.
The head of the International Olympic Committee's medical commission, Prince Alexandre de Merode, indicated in Spain this week that the IOC-accredited laboratory in Barcelona had used a new test to look for evidence of artificial forms of the banned hormone after the swimmer provided a urine sample in January.
Prince Alexandre refused to give the result of the analysis. But sports officials at the laboratory were reported to have said it found signs of testosterone which had been produced artificially.
Ms de Bruin, who has denied manipulating her sample, could not be punished, however, if the result was confirmed, because the test has not been recognised officially.
Two officials confirmed independently that traces of artificial testosterone had been found in the sample, Reuters claimed.
This latest twist in the controversy comes after the world swimming body, FINA, announced last month that both samples of the random urine test on Ms de Bruin showed evidence of tampering. The case has gone to FINA's doping panel, before which she is due to appear this month.
It was indicated initially that she was going to be charged with having a "banned precursor of testosterone" in her urine, but FINA did not proceed with this.
The urine sample contained levels of alcohol which Prince Alexandre said in April were so high that they "would be deadly", and indicated manipulation. Alcohol consumption has been used by athletes in the past as a method of concealing altered testosterone levels in urine samples.
Ms de Bruin has alleged tampering by a third party with the sample.
Her lawyer told The Irish Times that the IOC's latest involvement was against the expressed wishes of FINA and indicated "the most malicious form of kangaroo court" was operating. His client was not in a position to defend herself in such circumstances, Mr Lennon said.
Ms de Bruin, who was at home in Kilkenny yesterday, had anticipated that there would be many twists in her case, he said, and was "philosophical and showing remarkable stoicism."
The swimmer has repeatedly said she is prepared to contest any ban that may be imposed on her in the IOC's Court of Arbitration and to go to the civil courts, if necessary, in an effort to clear her name.
