Swimming: Athletes query Bray's theory

By PATRICK GOWER

Three top New Zealand athletes have questioned Olympic swimmer Trent Bray's claims that he may have failed a drug test because he unwittingly took the steroid nandrolone in a fruit drink.

Bray has claimed the drug may have been in a drink made for him while he trained at the Mt Roskill pool three months before the positive test.

But former world triathlon champion Rick Wells and Olympic swimmers Paul Kingsman and Monique Rodahl Williams said it was impossible for the fruit drink to have caused his positive test.

"It is a scientific fact that nandrolone can last in the body of a male for a maximum of three weeks," Kingsman told the Herald last night.

He said the trio believed Bray's claim cast a shadow of doubt over top coach Hilton Brown, who is based at the Mt Roskill pool.

"For the length of time Hilton Brown has been coaching he deserves better than this," Kingsman said. "His abhorrence to drugs is well-known and he is shattered by these allegations."

Mr Brown refused to comment last night.

Bray's positive test was overturned in court but the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency has appealed against the decision.

Last night, Bray would comment only through his lawyer, Peter Thorp, as the case might be heard again if an appeal succeeds.

Mr Thorp said Bray did not accept the athletes' claims.

"Had there not been the lapse of time it might have been easier to resolve these things."

He said Bray disputed the suggestion that nandrolone could last in the body for only three weeks.

He could have had the drink more recently, as he had last trained at the Mt Roskill pool up to a month beforehand.

Bray had not claimed the drink had caused the positive test. He had said only that he could not exclude the drink as he had been unable to obtain a sample of it.