How many Olympic gold medals did swimmer Michelle Smith de Bruin win for Ireland and was she allowed to keep them?
MICHELLE SMITH de BRUIN remains Ireland's most decorated Olympian to this day after her four medal haul at the Atlanta 1996 games.
De Bruin set the swimming world on fire after she claimed gold in the 400M freestyle, 200M individual medley, 400m individual medley and a bronze in the 200m butterfly, that's where the controversy begins.
THE CONTROVERSY
Prior to competing in the opening event of the Atalanta games the Irish swimmer did not submit her 400m freestyle qualifying time before the July 5 deadline.
Irish Olympic delegates submitted the times after the official deadline, insisting they had been granted permission to do so.
Subsequently, the decision to let the Irish swimmer compete in the games led to then world record holder Janet Evans being pulled from the event because there were only 8 places were up for grabs in qualification. Evans was ninth once Smith de Bruin's times were recognised.
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After the decision to allow the Dubliner to compete ahead at the expense of the world record holder there were a series of allegations aimed at Smith de Bruin.
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Evans claimed at a later press conference that 'poolside' rumours were rife and suggested the Irish swimmer was involved in doping. Smith has repeatedly denied ever taking any illegal substances.
In 1998 World governing body FINA banned Smith de Bruin for a total of 4 years, ending her swimming career. She was found guilty of tampering with a urine sample. Traces of alcohol were found in the samples.
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The then 28-year-old appealed the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but the four-year ban was upheld.
Ireland's first-ever female gold medal winner never failed a drug test but the 98' tampering case has left the validity of her achievements with more question than answers.
Smith de Bruin is a graduate of King's Inn and now practices as a lawyer focusing on civil law.