Andrew Bree hopes to participate in the Beijing Olympics

The Irish Sports Council has suspended funding for County Down swimmer Andrew Bree after his positive drugs test.

Bree is trying to clear his name after failing a test at the European Short Course Championships in December.

He believes a banned substance was contained in an inhaler which he bought over the counter in the United States.

The Sports Council said it had to withhold the funding because the case came under the juridiction of FINA, the world governing body of swimming.

It is believed Bree, who is based at the University of Tennessee, had been due to recieve 12,000 Euro in funding.

The 26-year-old is the only Irish swimmer to have qualified for the Beijing Olympics but he cannot take part in any competitions until the result of his case is known.

Bree only received the initial documents relating to the case at his US base on Tuesday and there is no word yet when any hearing might take place.

World governing body Fina will adjudicate on the case.