.. what happend or didnt happen after that is irrelevant, if gianni has factual proof that she did indeed cheat during the 1996 olympics ,then let him/her put it out on the table so we all can see it! otherwise they are simply engaged in gossip and heresay.
There is no proof or evidence that Michelle Smith engaged in anything illegal as part of her preparations for the 1996 Olympics. There is an information vacuum as to how she was transformed from the swimmer she was in 1992 to the one she was in 1996. In the absence of any plausible explanation to account for that dramatic and unprecedented rate of improvement, it is human nature to speculate. And when, in that 4 year period, she was being coached by Erik De Bruin who was, at best, equivocal about the use of performance enhancing drugs, that speculation centres on the basis for her rate of improvement.
As far as I can remember, no explanation was ever offered that was accepted by other competitors, coaches, sports scientists, etc. For someone with her level of achievement and PBs, in 1992, to improve dramatically to be not just an Olympic finalist, but dominant gold medallist, is unprecedented. To do so at a stage of life when she should be past her peak (and slowing down) is also unprecedented.
For Erik de Bruin to have transformed a good international competitor to an Olympic champion is remarkable. That should make him one of the most sought-after coaches in the world. To my knowledge, he is not actively involved, in any capacity, as a swimming coach.