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The agent of US Olympic swimmer Jessica Hardy has leapt to her defence after media reports said she had tested positive for a banned substance.

"Jessica Hardy is a friend and someone I have the utmost faith has never done anything other than the right way," Evan Morgenstein said.

Reports in the United States said Hardy (pictured), who qualified for the August 8-24 Olympics in multiple events, had produced positive results from a sample from the recent US Olympic trials.

Typically a first-time doping offence results in a two-year ban.

"I don't know enough about the allegations to determine the veracity of the claim, but as far as I am concerned Jessica is innocent. Period," Morgenstein said.

The World Anti-Doping Agency would not immediately comment.

World swimming's governing body FINA would neither confirm nor deny whether or not Hardy had tested positive.

"As per FINA Doping Control Rules, when a test is not conducted by FINA, we expect to receive the information from the respective National Anti-Doping Agency conducting that test," executive director Cornel Marculescu said.

"Also in accordance with FINA Doping Control Rules regarding confidentiality, FINA will not announce and/or comment [on] any case until a decision is taken by the body having the jurisdiction of the case."

Hardy, a former 100-metres breastroke world record holder, was officially entered into the Beijing Games on Wednesday by the US Olympic Committee.

If the 21-year-old has tested positive she will be able to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who would rule if she can compete in Beijing or not.

Reuters