Hungarian Olympic Swimmer Agnes Kovacs Out For The Olympics

Hungarian Olympic champion swimmer Agnes Kovacs announced on Wednesday that she would not compete in the Beijing Olympic Games, MTI news agency reported. Kovacs said her decision was mainly motivated by the fuss around the doping test which preceded the European short-course championships held in Debrecen last month. She said: "This affair has influenced my decision. If it had not happened, I would have had sufficient strength to continue training for the Beijing Olympics."

The Olympic, world and European champion swimmer faced a doping charge after providing an insufficient urine sample for anti-doping officials in late October. The swimmer 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. In early December the world swimming organization FINA also cleared her of the charge. The swimmer, however, has not ended her career. She said she would continue to compete up until the Hungarian championships in July. Source.