Aussie star's big admission amid swimming 'cover-up' claims

Swimming Australia caused controversy with an apparent cover-up of the Shayna Jack doping scandal but one Dolphins star is ‘glad’ the team were kept in the dark.

The circumstances surrounding Jack’s departure ahead of the world championships in South Korea and the subsequent leaking of her positive test have been hotly disputed.

Swimming Australia chief executive Leigh Russell said their hands were tied because only Jack or ASADA could go public due to privacy reasons.

Russell said Jack, who cited ‘personal reasons’ when she left the team, wanted to wait until after the world championships in fear it would distract her teammates in competition.

Those claims have been denied in subsequent reports, with one claiming Jack was ordered to withhold the information from her teammates and stay quiet when she wanted to go public.

But while the young swimmer may have wanted to tell her friends, fellow rising star Ariarne Titmus has declared the right call was made – however it was decided.

“Are you glad you didn't know during your time in South Korea what was going on behind the scenes with Swimming Australia?” the 18-year-old was asked on Channel 7.

“Yeah,” Titmus responded.

“I don't think it affected the team too much because when we did find out we had three sessions left and we knew we had to finish our job there.”

Fresh concerns for Jack’s wellbeing have surfaced in the days since the news leaked.

The 20-year-old is preparing for a meeting with ASADA on Friday where her uncertain future will be discussed.

It is the first step for Jack, who denies knowingly taking the drug, proving her argument to avoid a potential four-year ban.

‘Devastating situation’

Titmus, her training partner, has been in touch with Jack since arriving home this week.

“I have spoken to Shayna, she's pretty upset obviously with the situation,” Titmus said.

“It hasn't affected me too bad. At the championships we didn't know, so I just had to think about what we had to do and my job was to finish racing there.

“Since coming back I have spoken to her and obviously it's a devastating situation.

“The team’s going to get through it ... I think the team's the best that it's been ever since I've been on it.

“I think everyone's said that this year was the best group, we were all so close. I think that's why we performed so well (at the world championships).”

with AAP