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CHAMPION swimmer Grant Hackett has offered to have a current blood sample stored for drug testing for up to 30 years.

Hackett was responding to Olympic long jump silver medallist Gary Honey’s suggestion that Australia’s swimmers were likely to be using performance-enhancing drugs.

As reported in yesterday’s Herald Sun, Honey said illegal drugs were so prevalent in endurance sports such as athletics and cycling he could not believe swimming was clean.

Hackett, a dual Olympic gold medallist, said yesterday he would stake his name on the rest of the Australian team being drug-free.

Yesterday national head coach Alan Thompson urged all drug-testing bodies to test his swimmers as often as possible.

Reeling from Honey’s remarks, Hackett countered by offering to have his blood stored and re-tested as drug testing technology improved.

“And I know any other Australian swimmer would do the same,” Hackett said. “I wouldn’t think twice about it. I have been a part of the Australian team for 10 years and have been one of its best-performed swimmers.

“I have never seen so much as a vial or tablet or anything. I couldn’t even tell you what growth hormones or steroids look like.

“I know I can’t speak for everyone, but I have to believe that if drugs haven’t come my way, then the same has to be said for everyone else.”

Hackett acknowledged drugs were, and had been, a problem in international swimming.

“But there are obvious signs that are symptomatic of drug use which you just don’t see in Australia,” Hackett said.

“Swimmers coming from nowhere to break world records, rapid overnight improvements.

“If you look at the Australian team, especially the women, they have gotten to where they are in painstakingly small increments. It has been a long and gruelling process and it was the same when our men were dominating.

“There have never been athletes burst on the scene, win a medal and then disappear.”

Thompson said he had absolute confidence that the Australian team was clean.

“We as a sport will continue to encourage WADA, FINA, ASDA to continue testing as widely as they can because we do not want drugs in our sport,” Thompson said.

“We’ll be co-operating fully with all the testing bodies. It frustrates us a little bit that happens, but I would still rather they be testing than not testing.

“I have absolute confidence in our swim team and in our sport that we are drug-free.”

Thompson said he was disappointed Honey had made such “inflammatory” comments.

“Gary Honey, a silver medallist from the Olympic Games, is a person Australians will listen to along with other famous people and legends in our sport,” he said.