Swimming: Swimmer's hearing date delayed

By Terry Maddaford

The tribunal hearing which will decide Trent Bray's swimming future has been delayed but Swimming New Zealand still hope it will convene early next week.

Bray's lawyer, Peter Thorp, requested a delay but said "some progress" had been made in preparing a defence.

"A substance we needed to do some tests has arrived," said Thorp. "But clearly Trent needs time to clear his name.

"We asked Swimming New Zealand to grant a delay."

Bray returned a positive test to the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone and faces a four-year ban from the sport.

Under the rules of swimming's governing body, Fina, the hearing and result should be decided within 14 days of the notice of the second [positive] sample.

That deadline expires on Tuesday and Swimming New Zealand president Phil Pritchard remains hopeful it can still be met.

"The hearing has been postponed - we originally hoped it would be held on Thursday or Friday - as the tribunal members felt he [Thorp] needed adequate time to prepare their defence," said Pritchard.

"We want to give the athlete a fair chance."

Pritchard would not be drawn on the number of tribunal members or the composition of the body which will hear the case in Auckland.