FINA is to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case of the four Brazilian swimmers, including Cesar Cielo, Olympic and world sprint freestyle champion, who tested positive for the banned substance furosemide, a diuretic, and received the lowest possible penalty from Brazilian authorities: a warning. A suspension of anything up to two years was available.

The FINA Statement in full:

Lausanne (SUI), July 6, 2011 - FINA has decided to appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) the decisions of the Doping Panel of the Brazilian Aquatic Sports Confederation in the matters of positive doping tests to the substance Furosemide for the swimmers Cesar Cielo Filho, Henrique Barbosa, Nicholas Santos and Vinicius Waked. 

The appeals will be based on the elements in file at this stage. In any event, it will be up to the CAS Panel to issue a decision in accordance with the FINA Doping Control Rules.

The athletes are presently not suspended and the appeal will, in principle, have no effect of suspending their right to participate to events pending a decision. The CAS Panel is the only authority which could make a decision on provisional suspension. 

FINA will use its best efforts to obtain a decision within the shortest possible time. FINA will in particular propose to apply expedited proceedings, it being observed that this depends on the agreements of the parties.

End of statement