Bree gets go-ahead for Olympics

Swimmer Andrew Bree will be eligible to compete at the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, BBC Sport understands.

The Helen's Bay man is believed to have been given a reprimand and a warning by world governing body FINA after testing positive for a banned substance.

Last month it was announced that Bree had failed a drugs test after a urine sample showed Levmethamfetamine traces.

Bree attributed the result to him taking the US version of an over-the-counter decongestant.

There had been fears that Bree could be handed a six-month ban which would have ruled him out of the Beijing Games.

The 26-year-old had his funding from the Irish Sports Council suspended and opted not to have his B sample analysed.

The UK version of the Vicks Inhaler does not contain Levmethamfetamine.

The Northern Ireland man clinched Olympic qualification in July 2007 when taking part in the 200m breaststroke at the US Nationals.

The World Anti-Doping Authority has said that athletes could receive a "reduced sanction" if they established that the use of "such a specified substance was not intended to enhance sport performance".

The Irish Sports Council said at the time that it had warned all its funded athletes about the dangers of using Vicks decongestant.

Bree competed in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney but he failed to qualify for the Athens Games.

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