Hardy is no doper: swimmer's agent

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The agent of U.S. Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy leapt to her defense on Thursday after media reports said she had tested positive for a banned substance.

"Jessica Hardy is a friend and someone I have the utmost faith has never done anything other than the right way," Evan Morgenstein told Reuters.

Reports from the United States said Hardy, who qualified for the August 8-24 Olympics in multiple events, had produced positive results from a sample from the recent U.S. Olympic trials.

Typically a first-time doping offence results in a two-year ban.

"I don't know enough about the allegations to determine the veracity of the claim, but as far as I am concerned Jessica is innocent. Period," Morgenstein said in an email response to questions from Reuters.

The World Anti-Doping Agency would not immediately comment.

World swimming's governing body would neither confirm nor deny whether or not Hardy had tested positive.

"As per FINA Doping Control Rules, when a test is not conducted by FINA, we expect to receive the information from the respective National Anti-Doping Agency conducting that test," Executive Director Cornel Marculescu said.

"Also in accordance with FINA Doping Control Rules regarding confidentiality, FINA will not announce and/or comment (on) any case until a decision is taken by the body having the jurisdiction of the case."

Hardy, a former 100m breastroke world record holder, was officially entered into the Beijing Games on Wednesday by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

If the 21-year-old has tested positive she will be able to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who would rule if she can compete in Beijing or not.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)