FINA dismisses Thorpe doping attack

FINA has told Ian Thorpe to "stick to swimming" following criticism from the Australian star about the lack of doping tests being carried out at the ongoing world championships.

Cornel Marculescu, executive director for the sport's world governing body, said on Wednesday that Thorpe should understand why FINA was reluctant to carry out tests for erythropoietin (EPO), one of the most dangerous banned drugs in sport.

"The swimmer's should swim. They become big stars, but they should respect our position. When the test is there, we will implement it the next second," Marculescu said.

FINA has questioned the reliability of tests for EPO, with Andrew Pipe, chairman of the organisation's Doping Control and Review Board, insisting on Tuesday that "the technology currently being used is still in its infancy".

But Thorpe launched an astonishing attack on FINA later the same day, just an hour after breaking his own world record to win the men's 800 metres freestyle title and claim his third gold medal of the championships.

"A lot of things that FINA do disappoint me and one of those is the lack of tests they carry out. From an outsider's point of view, it doesn't look good. There is no deterrent," the 18-year-old said.

Asked whether he thought swimming was clean, Thorpe said: "It's not at the moment and I don't know if it ever will be."

UNDER FIRE

FINA has come under fire for deciding not to test for EPO at the world championships in Fukuoka when other major sports federations, including the International Amateur Athletic Federation, have announced they will.

David Gerrard, chairman of the FINA Sports Medicine Committee, said on Wednesday that he supported Pipe's verdict that the current tests would be unlikely to stand up in a court of law.

"At the moment, the scientific community is still trying to agree upon a watertight, legally defensible test for EPO," he said.

Marculescu suggested that Thorpe was unaware of the problems involved in finding a reliable test.

"Probably at the end of the championships, we need Dr. Pipe to meet Ian and explain the situation. We have nothing to hide. We are one of the leading organisations fighting against drugs," he said.

Marculescu said that FINA would send the athletes an information package on its doping policies to clear up any confusion before the end of the meet.

FINA also found a sympathetic voice in Tom Collins, coach of the American women's team.

"There's doubt in every sport. Lance Armstrong was interviewed about it during the Tour de France. I'm surprised they don't test Tiger Woods," he said. "I hate to say it, but I don't think there's a quick solution."

Meanwhile, Thorpe's Australian teammate Michael Klim agreed that there should be more testing by FINA.

"I absolutely agree with what Ian is saying. They should be testing for everything that they can," said Klim.

Italy's Olympic champion Massimiliano Rosolino suggested that FINA could do more to out-of-competition testing to combat drug cheats.

"They shouldn't just test at big championships because if someone has got something, they won't catch it here. If (FINA) wants to do something new, they know where I am," he said.