Beijing 2008: Jaben's positive drug test confirmed

Swimmer likely to be banned from Beijing after traces of steroid found in 'B' sample.

By ALLON SINAI
max jaben 224 88 (photo credit: Avi Sirota)
max jaben 224 88
(photo credit: Avi Sirota)
Israeli swimmer Max Jaben's is set miss the Beijing Olympics next month after it was confirmed on Saturday that the 'B' sample of a drug test taken from him in April was found to be positive. The urine sample of the 22-year-old, who made aliya from the US after competing at the 2005 Maccabiah games, contained traces of the anabolic steroid boldenone and the Israeli Swimming Association (ISA) will have no real choice but to hand Jaben a suspension for testing positive for the anabolic steroid. Jaben, who learned two weeks ago that the 'A' sample of his test was positive, professed his innocence in an interview with the Kansas City Star on Thursday and claimed his legal team had alternative theories for the failed test. "If you test positive for something, many people aren't interested in your truth. They're only interested in the positive drug test," he said. "I don't have a clue what [boldenone] is. If you would have asked me before this happened if I had ever heard of this thing, I would have told you no. I really can't believe this is happening to me… I've never taken a steroid." Jaben booked his place in the Olympics by finishing in 11th position in the 200 meters freestyle race at the European Championships, setting a then Israeli record time of 1:49.48 minutes. Jaben continued to train with the Israeli national team in Spain in the week that followed the positive result of his A sample, but returned to Israel on Wednesday to meet with his lawyers. The Olympic Committee of Israel announced last Sunday that Jaben is suspended from the Israeli delegation and that should his B sample also be positive he will be suspended indefinitely until the ISA tribunal hands out its verdict. "I felt like a plane crashed. I went from being on top of the world. As of right now, it's all gone," said Jaben. "It's a horrible feeling, something that I've never imagined feeling… "As a sportsman, this is the lowest low that you can go."