Cone of silence

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There will be an arbitration hearing for Jessica Hardy, the Long Beach swimmer who tested positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. But she is racing against the clock, so to speak, in her appeal to swim at the Beijing Games.

Hardy remains on the team and will stay on the roster until the appeal process runs its course.

So what’s the arbitration process?

Her lawyer Howard Jacobs responded promptly on Wednesday to an e-mail query: ‘The Panel has stated that under the rules, the date and location of the hearing are confidential, sorry.’

He also declined to discuss defense strategies ‘for now.’

So all we know is that the hearing will be this week. Or it could very well being going on right now.

Time to go dig out a most-appropriate CD, ‘Sounds of Silence.’

-- Lisa Dillman