'Facilitators': ASADA's explosive twist in Shayna Jack doping saga

ASADA has raised a stunning possibility in the Shayna Jack doping saga after revealing that part of its investigation is focused on whether drug “facilitators” were involved.

The 20-year-old, part of Australia's 4x100m freestyle team that set a world record last year, tested positive to Ligandrol, which helps build muscle mass, out of competition late last month.

But it only came to light at the weekend, in a huge embarrassment for Australian swimming after Olympic champion Mack Horton's high-profile protest against Chinese rival Sun Yang at the world championships in South Korea.

Horton refused to share a podium with Sun, who is accused of smashing vials of blood following a test last year and has been convicted of doping in the past.

Critics have taken aim at Swimming Australia after they remained silent when the sprinter was told her A sample had tested positive to Ligandrol - on July 12.

She was sent home the same day from Australia's world titles training camp in Japan, citing "personal reasons".

It led to the awkward situation where the few SA officials who knew of Jack's positive test could only look on silently as Olympic champion Mack Horton launched an anti-doping protest at the world titles in South Korea, completely oblivious of the fact his former teammate had tested positive.

Then eyebrows were raised when Jack revealed on Instagram on Sunday that her B sample also tested positive on July 19, two days before the world titles started at Gwangju.

SA CEO Leigh Russell had only referred to an A sample when she addressed the media on Sunday to slam Jack's positive test as "bitterly disappointing and embarrassing for the national swimming team, the sport and the country".

Russell also indicated they were still waiting on the B test.

She said confidentiality required by SA's agreement with national anti-doping body ASADA didn't allow them to reveal Jack's initial A sample test.

Russell said Jack had been planning to reveal the A sample positive test after the world titles ended on Sunday so it would not be a distraction for the Dolphins.

But the truth came out on Saturday when media reports broke that Jack's A sample had tested positive, creating a major distraction for the Australian team that still had two days left in their world titles campaign at Gwangju.

“Absolutely it would have been so much easier for us at Swimming Australia to be transparent about the adverse test finding as soon as we were notified,” Russell told Channel Nine on Monday.

“Certainly that would have been an incredibly easier proposition for us than perhaps waiting for Shayna or ASADA to release information.”

However, ASADA released a statement on Monday to clarify its process for dealing with doping cases, detailing the confidentiality agreements they've had in place with sporting organisations since 2006, that restrict what can be reported.

ASADA did, however, stress that its statement did not relate to any particular individual case.

“One of the reasons as to why ASADA has these agreements is to protect the integrity of our investigations," the statement read.

“It is ASADA’s standard practice to conduct a thorough investigation in relation to all allegations of doping in Australian sport, including when an athlete returns a ‘positive’ test result."

The anti-doping agency then went on to to raise the potential involvement of a third party or parties - a scenario similar to biochemist Stephen Dank's association with the Essendon and Cronulla Sharks supplements scandals.

“This enables ASADA to assess the veracity of an athlete’s claims and determine whether other athletes or support persons are involved in a broader anti-doping issue, as well as taking into account the rights and welfare of the athlete.

“More importantly, our investigations enable ASADA to target facilitators who may be preying on Australian sport and our athletes.”

Russell said after consultation with ASADA, SA is not "expecting a very quick resolution" to Jack's doping case.

“I also want to make it clear that Shayna is entitled to a natural justice and a fair process and that process is continuing,” Russell said.

Jack's coach Dean Boxall, who also mentors 400m world champion Ariarne Titmus, said the saga had taken its toll on his swimmer.

"I've been in contact with her all the time. The girl is devastated. I'm devastated. I love my athletes," Boxall told the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.

"I support Shayna, I support Swimming Australia and I certainly support our stance on zero tolerance for drug cheating. So does Shayna. That's why she left immediately. We followed the process."

He added that "we are going to fight with her and Swimming Australia is going to fight with her".

"I believe strongly her story. I know my athlete. This is a very, very sad story. We've got to go through the process and respect it and we trust it. I believe it will all be finished (Jack will be cleared). Absolutely."

With AAP