DE BRUIN CASE A SALUTARY LESSON FOR ASPIRING STARS

THE fall of a hero invariably evokes a gamut of reactions ranging from
sympathy to disappointment and occasionally, when that decline is self
inflicted, those feelings give way to disillusionment, shame and
disgrace. Such is the case with Ireland's former golden girl Michelle
de Bruin whose fall from grace has left a once glittering career in
tatters.

Unsurprisingly, the combative Olympic swimming champion continues to
protest her innocence, claiming her achievements were won without
recourse to illegal performance enhancing drugs.

The facts are clearcut. Found guilty by Fina, the sport's governing
body, of tampering with a urine sample said to contain lethal levels
of alcohol, she received a four-year ban, immediately pleaded
innocence and appealed the verdict. But the Court of Arbitration for
Sport has upheld the ban concluding she was "the only person who had
the motive and opportunity to manipulate the sample.

The ruling brings de Bruin to the lowest point of a spectacular
career. She may never swim again. It means, for instance, she will not
defend her Olympic gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

The disgraced swimmer has been dogged by rumours of drug-taking ever
since the Atlanta Olympics when she won three golds and a bronze
medal. Amid an up-welling of national pride, the rumours were
attributed to a whispering campaign among defeated rivals and
dismissed as sour grapes.

In today's cut-throat world, time-worn qualities of bravery and
honesty attributed to those who attain heroic status are all too rare.

The elite competitors who make it to the top against the odds become
role models for others to emulate. Michelle de Bruin had become an
outstanding example of the genre, setting a standard for thousands of
young Irish athletes to follow.

Though she has not been found guilty of doping, the CAS judges heard
she had been using a banned drug. This underlines the urgency of
putting into operation a drugs programme promised two years ago by
government.

Ms de Bruin's former glory is diminished. For a great many supporters,
while the heart may say one thing the head says another.

The nation has been robbed of a heroic figure but if it means sport
will be cleaner it is a price worth paying. Sadly, she does her case a
disservice by accusing sections of the media and the public of
vilifying and attacking her reputation.

Contrary to suggestions that the de Bruin case is not good for Irish
swimming, it is a salutary lesson for aspiring sports people at all
levels in all sports from the schoolyard to national teams. It is a
timely warning of the high price to be paid for cheating.