FINA says Hungarian Olympic swimmer not guilty of doping

The world swimming governing body FINA said on Wednesday that it believes Hungarian Olympic champion swimmer Agnes Kovacs was not guilty of doping, according to news agency MTI.

FINA officially informed the Hungarian Swimming Association that it agreed with the Hungarian Swimming Association's opinion on this matter and would not appeal it.

Kovacs was implicated after providing an insufficient sample on October 30. She said she had been unable to complete the unscheduled test because she had to leave to attend a previous engagement with UNICEF goodwill ambassador Sir Roger Moore. Another test taken on November 8 was found negative.

The disciplinary committee of the Hungarian Swimming Association ruled that Kovacs had had a valid reason for leaving and that she had not violated doping regulations.

It criticized the Hungarian anti-doping authority for not appointing someone to accompany Kovacs and remaining with her until such time as she could provide a sufficient sample, as international sampling rules dictate.

FINA called on the Hungarian Swimming Association to relay its concerns to the anti-doping authority and warned that it was not setting a precedent with the ruling.

FINA only will accept a temporary interruption of a sample-taking session under very special circumstances, it underlined.