I'm no drugs cheat, says Thorpe

MELBOURNE, April 1 (Reuters) Five-times Olympic champion Ian Thorpe has denied using performance-enhancing drugs and vowed to clear his name after a drug test before his retirement last year showed unusually high levels of naturally-occurring hormones.

The 24-year-old former Australian swimmer told a news conference today he had no idea why the random test, taken in May last year, had produced an irregular result.

''I have never cheated,'' Thorpe told reporters in Melbourne.

He added that he had never used any illegal substances and would co-operate with the investigating authorities to prove his innocence.

REUTERS SAM RK1145