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Trickett's Comeback Hits Delay

by Josh Huger (MrUtopia)

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Created September 2nd, 2010 09:20:35 AM

Modified September 2nd, 2010 09:20:35 AM

Libby Trickett’s comeback may hit a delay as FINA’s Anti-Doping rules may prevent her from qualifying for next year’s World Championships.

The way that FINA’s anti-doping rules are set up Trickett must wait nine months after announcing a return to competition before she is actually allowed to compete. If things play out this way it will prevent her from qualifying for next year’s World Championships in Shanghai.

That is where the confusion began.

Swimming Australia officials assumed that Trickett would be good to go by the time that Trials rolled around according to their Sports Anti-Doping Authorities. The SADA requires a six-month period for athletes to wait once they announce they are coming out of retirement. But once FINA got wind of Trickett’s return they had to make sure that the proper rules were being followed.

Trickett told the Herald Sun, “I’m in FINA’s hands at the moment.”

“It’s still up in the air if I can still swim at trials next year which obviously makes it difficult to qualify for worlds if I can’t swim at the trials.”

Because of the level I got to FINA may elect to put me under FINA rules (as an international-class athlete) which would mean nine months and not six months which is the ASADA rules.

"It's quite complicated and it's one of those things where you lay your cards out and just hope for the best.''

Australia’s National head coach Leigh Nugent was quoted by the Herald Sun saying that “the situation didn't look great for Trickett as FINA's powers overruled ASADA, meaning she may be barred from competing until eight weeks after the nationals.”

The Olympic road is never easy for anyone but even in the midst of the whirlwind of rules and regulations Trickett remains optimistic.

She told the Herald Sun, “I think anything is possible. I think I can get just as strong, just as fit and just as powerful, and hopefully I can continue to improve at the same time.”