Andrew Bree hopes to participate in the Beijing Olympics

Andrew Bree was warned about the danger of using Vicks decongestant, according to the Irish Sports Council.

The ISC has suspended funding for the 26-year-old Helen's Bay swimmer after his positive drugs test.

Bree registered an adverse finding for levmethamfetamine, which he said came from using the US version of a Vicks Inhaler.

However, Vicks decongestant is labelled as a potential hazard in a card given to all athletes under ISC auspices.

The Irish 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.

He 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.

Elite athletes should be aware at this stage. Dr Una May

The Irish record holder at 200m breaststroke said he "unwittingly" took a stimulant.

"In general I would be surprised that an elite athlete has made a mistake," said Dr Una May, manager of the ISC ani-doping programme.

"I suppose I would be disappointed - we do provide athletes with as much information as possible.

"Elite athletes should be aware at this stage. For the last number of years it has been included on our card."

The card urges athletes to exercise particular caution with the product as the European and US versions differ.

Scottish skier Alain Baxter was stripped of an Olympic bronze medal in 2002 after using the same US version of the inhaler.

Skier Alain Baxter was hit by a three-month ban in 2002

However, Baxter received a three-month ban for the offence and was able to resume his career.