Australian basketballer Abby Bishop faces a battle to make the Rio 2016 Olympics after surviving a fight against life-threatening blood clots.
The Opals forward suffered an allergic reaction to medication taken to help fix a long-term hamstring injury.
However when the mannitol - a substance she required clearance from WADA to take - unknowingly left her with 24cm of blood clots that spread from her left wrist to her shoulder and neck, she was unable to even move her arm.
The Canberra Capitals star collapsed at home and had to be rushed to hospital two weeks ago, a blessing in disguise as doctors say the clots could have killed her had they gone undetected.
"I don't feel lucky to be here," Bishop told Fairfax Media.
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"I just feel lucky to have been able to catch it early."
However even with the clots removed, doctors have ruled out any contact work in training for three months while she remains on blood-thinning medication as any knock could have severe ramifications.
It means she will have little serious training before the Opals Games squad is named in July as she bids to play at a second Olympics.
"It does put me behind the eight-ball for selection and I totally understand that, and absolutely they told me how serious it is (if I train)," Bishop said.
"You don't muck around with this stuff. That's what the doctors explained to me - if I get one hit to the head while I'm on this (blood-thinning) medication I could potentially die."
