The USA Swimming announced Friday that Jessica Hardy has withdrawn from the US Olympic team following a positive test for the banned substance.

"As a result of Jessica Hardy's withdrawal from the US Olympic Team, swimmers from the existing roster will be placed in the open events. Rebecca Soni will swim the 100 breaststroke and Kara Lynn Joyce will swim the 50 freestyle," USA Swimming executive director Chuck Wielgus said in a statement posted on the association's official website Friday.

The statement says that the USA Swimming followed the US Olympic Team selection procedures, which were approved by the US Olympic Committee and published on February 22, 2008.

According to the 2008 Olympic Pool Selection Procedures, no additional members except those who are already in the team shall be added to fill a vacant event position. And the swimmer should have "recorded the fastest time in such vacant event during the period beginning January 1, 2006 through July 6, 2008."

Hardy, a 21-year-old swimmer from Long Beach, qualified for the Beijing Games in the 100 meter breaststroke and the 50 meter freestyle, as well as earning a berth in the 100 meter freestyle.

Hardy tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol on July 4 at the US Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha. A beta-2 agonist, the drug has anabolic effects, is also considered a stimulant and has been used to treat asthma.

She left an Olympic team training camp in California after learning of her positive test result. She has requested an expedited hearing so that she can join the team, now training in Singapore.

She claims not to have heard of the drug until notified of her failed test on July 21. Her coach Dave Salo suggested to reporters that Hardy should consider whether she ingested a contaminated supplement, according to New York's Daily News.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2008)