No date for de Bruin hearing

No specific date has yet been fixed for the final hearing of multiple Olympic and European gold swimming medalist Michelle de Bruin, but according to a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) spokesman they are hopeful that all parties will be ready for the appeal before the end of the year, most likely some time in December.

"The case is still in progress but we are still at the first stage where written statements have been exchanged. We are hoping that the appeal can be heard before the end of the year," said the CAS spokesman.

De Bruin is appealing to the Lausanne-based sport's court against a four-year ban handed down by FINA, the international governing body of swimming, for allegedly tampering with a urine sample in her Kilkenny home earlier this year.

The court is the final arbitrator in the Irishwoman's dispute with FINA in which she hopes to have her sentence rescinded or reduced in length.

Once a final decision is reached the possibilities of an appeal are very limited.

While papers and written statements have been exchanged between the parties, so far a panel of judges has not yet been constituted. Three judges, who specialise in sports law, will hear the case.