Warilla paddler David Smith’s bid to defend his Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro won’t be sunk by teammate Tate Smith’s positive doping test, team boss Richard Fox declared.

While news of the positive test broke at the weekend, Tate’s three K4 1000metre gold medal teammates David Smith, Murray Stewart and Jacob Clear were told about it weeks ago and are back training as normal with Australian Canoeing’s support.

If found guilty, 32-year-old Tate Smith will become the first Australian Olympic gold medallist to be banned under the WADA anti-doping code, after testing positive during an out-of-competition test in Hungary in July.

Tate has been provisionally suspended with the matter now in the hands of ASADA, and reports say a retrospective analysis of the kayaker’s tests from the London Games – which originally came back clean – will need to take place.

If irregularities are found with those samples from the 2012 Olympics, there’s the possibility the team could be stripped of gold.

Despite the stress Tate’s positive test must be causing, Australian Canoeing high performance director Richard Fox said it was business as usual for David Smith, Stewart and Clear and he was confident the nation’s paddlers were in good stead for Rio regardless of what happens to Tate Smith.

‘‘We’ve got a strong pool of athletes in that 1000metre space,’’ Fox said.

‘‘Without pre-judging how things will play out, I guess it’s something that could happen at any station, whether it’s injury, illness or retirement. Versatility is important and it’s a strength of our squad.

‘‘Without pinpointing any one individual, we’ve got a strong pool of talent with which to work and shape up.

‘‘It’s not like we’re in a difficult position shaping things up going forward.

‘‘The main focus at this point is on the individuals getting back into the flow.

‘‘We’re just quietly going about our business and keeping people really active and focused.’’

There have been mixed reports about what substance Smith tested positive to and the explanations he has given to the relevant authorities.

Australian Canoeing and the Australian Olympic Committee are bound by confidentiality under ASADA rules and can’t discuss it.

Fox wouldn’t comment on how the other three team members were coping with the bombshell.

‘‘We’re in regular contact. The coaching group, the athletes’ group, the leadership group.’’

But he said normal human behaviour in this situation is to keep doing what you have to do.

‘‘The most important thing for us is to look after the individual interests and the collective interests and keep paddling.’’

AAP