Kylie Palmer Given “A Warning” For 2013 Positive Drug Test

Kylie Palmer
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Australian freestyler Kylie Palmer has dodged any further suspension from competition by FINA, as the world organization announced that she will only be given “a warning and a reprimand” for testing positive for a banned substance during the 2013 world championships.

The positive drug test came on July 31, 2013, the day of the 200 freestyle final in Barcelona. Palmer finished sixth in that race, and was randomly selected for a drug test. The results of that urine sample “showed low levels of a prohibitive substance,” according to a press release from FINA earlier this year. Subsequent urine and blood samples a day later – when Palmer was part of Australia’s silver medal-winning 800 free relay – showed no trace of that substance.

Until today’s announcement, the name of the illegal substance that was found in Palmer’s sample had not been publicly identified. But now we know that it was furosemide, a diuretic that can act as a masking agent for other drugs.

The World Anti-Doping Agency got involved this past February, and during the appeal process, Palmer withdrew from Australia’s world championships team while the appeal was underway. Palmer appears to have proven that the illegal substance was taken unintentionally, and since it was her first drug violation, avoided a possible two-year or four-year suspension.

Though FINA has decided to not give Palmer an official suspension for the positive drug test in 2013, her result from the 200 free final will be nullified. Had she won any money as a result of that finish, her prize money would also have to be returned.

The silver medal Palmer won as part of the 800 free relay will not be revoked, according to the FINA announcement about the decision.

Palmer will now look ahead to April’s Olympic Trials in Australia.

Swimming Australia released the following statement regarding FINA’s decision:

Swimming Australia fully supported the process once the matter came before the FINA Doping Tribunal and accepts the findings.

Swimming Australia’s concern throughout the process was the two year delay in informing the athlete of the positive test that occurred in 2013 and the issues that this created for Kylie Palmer throughout the process.

Swimming Australia will continue to work with the Australian Government, the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Olympic Committee to combat the menace of doping and remains a strong supporter of the fight against performance-enhancing drugs and other forms of doping, in both swimming and all sport.

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JefftheSwimmer
JefftheSwimmer
8 years ago

What I dislike about this is that all of the decision making and discussion around it happens in a vacuum. It should all be public record after a conclusion is reached. Particularly the facts presented by the athletes and their legal teams in defense. Not so much to cast doubt, but to help understand the process by which athletes are found guilty or absolved. Also it would be extremely helpful to other athletes to find out what Ms. Palmer ingested specifically. What supplements by name or what medications exactly. This would definitely help other athletes to avoid them.

Francene
Francene
8 years ago

This is bologna. No one takes a diuretic during a major competition. And healthy people have no use for furosemide. And of course she didn’t test positive later in the relay – she had taken a diuretic!

I thought athletes were supposed to be responsible for what they put in their bodies anyway.

Antonio
Antonio
8 years ago

Francene nailed it.
There’s no such thing as unintentional drug use – the athlete is responsible.

Good to note Swimming Australia’s laser-like focus on the critical aspect of the case – delay by fina – rather than wasting time on trivia like whether one of their athletes is doping or not.

Paul Schlanger
8 years ago

That’s not a warning. She missed out on a world championship for what was an indefensible accusation. I call that a penalty. And that is wrong.

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