REVEALED: Australian swimmer Shayna Jack was forced to leave World Championships because of a failed drugs test
- Shayna Jack reportedly failed doping test ahead of World Championships
- Australian swimmer walked away from relay team days from South Korea event
- She took to Instagram to reveal the real reason for her mysterious departure
- Revelation comes after public stoush between Mack Horton and Sun Yang
Australian swimmer Shayna Jack reportedly failed a doping test ahead of the World Championships, forcing her to pull out of the competition.
Ms Jack, 20, had walked away from the 4x100m relay team just days before they competed in South Korea, citing ‘personal reasons’, but little else was known.
On Saturday, she shared to her Instagram she had pulled out of the race due to ‘allegations of having a prohibited substance in my system’.
Australian swimmer Shayna Jack (pictured) reportedly failed a doping test ahead of the World Championships, forcing her to pull out of the competition
Ms Jack, 20, had walked away from the 4x100m relay team just days before they competed in South Korea , citing ‘personal reasons’, but little else was known
‘I did NOT take this substance knowingly. Swimming has been my passion since I was 10 years old and I would never intentionally take a banned substance that would disrespect my sport and jeopardise my career.
‘Now there is an ongoing investigation and my team and I are doing everything we can to find out when and how this substance has come into contact with my body.’
Ms Jack said she was finding the allegations ‘very hard to cope with’.
Ms Jack looked set to make a major impact at the world titles for Australia in their premier relay outfits after showing express pace by finishing third in a world-class 200m final and fourth in the 100m decider at the recent trials in Brisbane.
With high hopes pinned to the swimmer, the sporting world was thrown into shock when Ms Jack announced she would not compete at Gwangiu, in South Korea.
She took to Instagram days before the swim event to break the news.
‘It is with great sadness that I have to withdraw from world championships due to personal reasons. I appreciate everyone’s support and patience. Thank you all,’ Jack said on Instagram.
Ms Jack (pictured) looked set to make a major impact at the world titles for Australia in their premier relay outfits after showing express pace by finishing third in a world-class 200m final and fourth in the 100m decider at the recent trials in Brisbane
With high hopes pinned to the swimmer, the sporting world was thrown into shock when Ms Jack (pictured) announced she would not compete at Gwangiu, in South Korea
At the time Dolphins assistant Michael Bohl could shed no further light as to why the swimmer had mysteriously pulled out.
‘We are not exactly sure. She left the team which we are obviously very disappointed about but she has left for personal reasons,’ Bohl said.
‘We all respect the privacy she has asked for and we will find out in time.’
Revelations of Ms Jack’s reason for pulling out of the swim event come after swimmer Mack Horton staged a protest against Chinese swimmer Sun Yang.
Sun served a doping ban in 2014 and has been accused of destroying vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash with testers last year.
Revelations of Ms Jack’s reason for pulling out of the swim event come after swimmer Mack Horton (left) staged a protest against Chinese swimmer Sun Yang (centre)
Horton, 23 (pictured, with his partner), accepted his silver medal but did not stand on the podium alongside Sun as the Chinese national anthem played – nor did he pose for photographs with his rival
Sun has been allowed to compete in South Korea by FINA, with a September Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing looming that if found guilty, will give him a lifetime suspension from the sport.
The Chinese swimmer narrowly beat Olympic champion Horton to claim his fourth-straight 400m freestyle world title at the opening night of the eight-day swim titles in South Korea.
Horton, 23, accepted his silver medal but did not stand on the podium alongside Sun as the Chinese national anthem played – nor did he pose for photographs with his rival.
Horton stood his ground throughout the awkward medal ceremony after previously being the only swimmer in the field not to shake Sun’s hand after the race.
Horton (pictured, at the swim event in South Korea) stood his ground throughout the awkward medal ceremony after previously being the only swimmer in the field not to shake Sun’s hand after the race