IRISH Olympic swimming

champion Michelle de Bruin may go to court over action by the sport's international body that could see her suspended for life.

FINA, swimming's international governing body, said yesterday that Ms de Bruin's case, centring on alleged manipulation of a drugs test, was to be tried by its doping panel.

The organisation disclosed that analysis of a second urine sample provided by the swimmer at her home in Kilkenny last January had indicated ''suspicion of physical manipulation''. The disciplinary hearing could go ahead next month.

But last night, Peter Lennon, the gold medallist's Dublin lawyer, said he was ''furious'' at the FINA move.

He declared: ''We have told FINA that unless they withdraw all charges on the basis of there being a negative finding in this case, we will be applying to CAS (the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport) for an injunction.

''If CAS won't take the case - because they may take the view they have no jurisdiction in the matter -we will be applying to the courts in Switzerland.''

Mr Lennon told Irish radio the press release about Ms de Bruin's case had come as a surprise because he had been in touch with FINA all day about the affair.

''More importantly, it confirms there is no doping offence in this particular case. In fact, the charges against Michelle Smith de Bruin should be withdrawn.''

Mr Lennon said there was nothing specific in the FINA statement - other than a suspicion of manipulation of the sample.

''One would have thought that since their own rules provide that confidentiality will be observed by all persons connected with doping control, until such time as the competitor is sanctioned in accordance with FINA rules, they should have had the common decency in this case to have informed the athlete, or her solicitors, that this was what they were doing, rather than issuing a press release internationally.''

Mr Lennon said he would be advising Ms de Bruin to proceed with an injunction application.