Alinghi sailor Simon Daubney tested positive to cocaine, and not cannabis as earlier reported, during this year's America's Cup match.

Daubney believed a drink spiked by "a small unruly element" who opposed his move from Team NZ to Alinghi seven years ago was to blame.

An America's Cup jury accepted his contention that he had not knowingly taken a banned substance. It said the International Sailing Federation had jurisdiction in respect of any penalty. Daubney and five witnesses appeared before the cup jury at a hearing in London last week over the failed test.

Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth and fellow New Zealand sailor Russell Coutts testified that, in their experience, Daubney had never taken any banned drug and they could not believe he would have knowingly taken cocaine.

The jury's decision, issued at the weekend, said analysis of the sample revealed the presence of two metabolites of cocaine. It said Daubney believed he had been the victim of a spiked drink which had been bought for him in the week before the sample was taken.

The genoa trimmer blamed people opposed to his and five other New Zealand sailors' decision to leave Team NZ in 2000. Daubney told the jury he had been subjected to considerable harassment over that decision.

He revealed that he had received a note at the Alinghi base the day after the test stating: "I heard you were tested. How did you get on? Ha Ha." He discarded it, thinking it was a practical joke.

From here a report is filed with the International Sailing Federation who will determine whether a further penalty will be imposed.