Disturbing truth behind Mack Horton's podium protest comes to light

Swimming Australia chief Leigh Russell has revealed her devastation when Mack Horton staged his world titles anti-doping protest in South Korea, knowing that Shayna Jack had tested positive.

But one of the few others who knew about Jack's plight at the time, Australian team head coach Jacco Verhaeren, says he didn't feel awkward and would have joined Horton's podium protest if he could.

Jack had been sent home from the world titles team training camp in Japan after initially failing a drug test on June 26.

She sensationally revealed via social media on Sunday that her B sample had also tested positive on July 19 for Ligandrol, a non-steroid anabolic agent popular with bodybuilders.

Russell said confidentiality required by SA's agreement with national anti-doping body ASADA didn't allow it to reveal Jack's initial positive test.

Australian team swimmers competing at the world championships in South Korea weren't told about her positive A sample until the news broke on Saturday, a month later.

Russell said she understood Jack had been planning to reveal the A positive test later this week, after the world titles ended, when it would not be a distraction for the Dolphins.

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But Russell acknowledged feeling "distressed" when Horton staged a podium protest last weekend against controversial Chinese star Sun Yang, who served a 2014 doping ban .

Asked if she had her "head in her hands" when Horton failed to acknowledge Sun, Russell said: "Yes, it was such a difficult one.

"I absolutely support Mack. He's entitled to say and do on an issue that he is passionate about and we are too.

“This has not changed our thinking on a zero-tolerance approach or our policy.

"But I certainly was watching Mack (protest), distressed about what would befall both Shayna and Mack in the coming days and week (once positive test broke)."

Aussie head coach stands by Horton

Verhaeren did not believe Jack's positive test had tarnished Horton's protest message and claimed the Olympic champion would still have done it if he knew about Jack's test.

"The question is going to be asked 'should he have done that?'," Verhaeren said in Gwangju.

"I think yes because that is a totally different subject as well. This is about someone standing up for clean sport and we still do that.

"If the meet started tomorrow with this knowledge he would stand there again and if I could I would stand next to him."

Horton told Seven Network Jack's positive test hadn't changed his stance.

"I was disappointed to learn late yesterday that a fellow Dolphins team member had recently returned a positive A sample," he said.

"I applaud the decision to immediately withdraw the athlete in question from further competition until this matter is resolved.

"My position remains firm - clean sport must be a priority for all athletes, all sports and all nations."