The tribunal hearing which will decide Trent Bray's swimming future has been delayed but Swimming New Zealand still hope it will convene early next week.
Bray's lawyer, Peter Thorp, requested a delay but said "some progress" had been made in preparing a defence.
"A substance we needed to do sometests has arrived," said Thorp. "But clearly Trent needs time to clear his name.
"We asked Swimming New Zealand to grant a delay."
Bray returned a positive test to the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone and faces a four-year ban from the sport.
Under the rules of swimming's governing body, Fina, the hearing and result should be decided within 14 days of the notice of the second [positive] sample.
That deadline expires on Tuesday and Swimming New Zealand president Phil Pritchard remains hopeful it can still be met.
"The hearing has been postponed - we originally hoped it would be held on Thursday or Friday - as the tribunal members felt he [Thorp] needed adequate time to prepare their defence," said Pritchard.
"We want to give the athlete a fair chance."
Pritchard would not be drawn on the number of tribunal members or the composition of the body which will hear the case in Auckland.
