Swimmer Palmer targets Rio as drug nightmare ends

Australia's Kylie Palmer, who missed the 2015 World Championships after testing positive for a banned drug, has received only a reprimand from swimming's governing body and says she can now focus on the Rio Games.

The 25-year-old 2008 Beijing Olympics relay gold medallist was found to have low levels of a banned masking agent in 2013, but was not notified until earlier this year.

Swimming's world governing body FINA, who only told Palmer in April about the failed test at the 2013 world championships in Barcelona, issued a warning and reprimand to Palmer on Tuesday.

"The decision of the (doping) panel means that I can return to competitive swimming immediately," Palmer said Wednesday.

"My number one goal is to represent Australia at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and I cannot wait to get back on track to achieving that dream."

Despite denying taking any performance-enhancing drugs, Palmer voluntarily accepted a provisional suspension that ruled her out of July's world championships in Russia while FINA investigated.

"I sincerely hope that this process is now over," she said, noting that FINA doping panel had not issued reasons for its findings.
Source: AFP