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Shaw blames Brazilian doctor
03/04/2008 22:00 - (SA)
Marjolein van der Stad, Beeld
Durban - Keri-Leigh Shaw says she has nothing to hide. She has never used any illegal substances and she is ready to fight tooth and nail to prove that she has not taken illegal substances.
This was the 18-year-old swimmer's reaction on Thursday after Swimming SA had suspended her, ending her participation in the national Olympic Games trials here.
It was announced this week that Shaw had tested positive for Clenbuterol, an anabolic steroid, and Ephedrine, a stimulant, during a World Cup series gala in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, last year.
She denied on Thursday that she had ever taken any illegal substances and said she would never do so because it was "terribly detrimental to one's health".
She had come to the conclusion that the only one way she could have taken anything illegal was by using "wrong tablets" given to her by a Brazilian doctor.
"I was ill and went to see a doctor. I explained to him that I was a swimmer and that there was a list of substances I was not allowed to take," she said.
"He assured me that the pain-killing tablets contained none of the banned substances."
She now believes the tablets were the cause of her positive test. "I know I am young and inexperienced but I'll never purposely take any wrong substances because I am tested regularly."
Shaw is a promising butterfly swimmer who aimed to qualify for the Beijing Games but that dream has now been shattered.
"I know I could have qualified for the Olympics because I worked hard," she said.
"My whole life has now been turned upside down. But I will find an attorney and fight this issue. I hope there will be another chance later to compete at the Games."
Shaw finds it strange that the substances for which she was tested positive are not available in South Africa.
"How would I have obtained those things? I don't travel abroad to buy banned substances. It just does not make sense."
Shaw trains with Dirk Lange, Swimming SA's chief coach. "My coach was as shocked as I was," she said on Thursday, adding that she was grateful to her friends and family for standing by her.
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