Cone of silence for a swimmer

There will be an arbitration hearing for Jessica Hardy, the Long Beach swimmer who tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. But she is racing against the clock, so to speak, in her appeal to swim at the Beijing Games.

Hardy remains on the team and will stay on the roster until the appeal process runs its course.

So what’s the arbitration process?

Her lawyer Howard Jacobs responded promptly on Wednesday to an e-mail query: “The Panel has stated that under the rules, the date and location of the hearing are confidential, sorry.”

He also declined to discuss defense strategies “for now.”

So all we know is that the hearing was last week. Or it could very well being going on right now.

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-- Lisa Dillman

From Olympics: Ticket to Beijing

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