Sport lovers relevied asThorpe's reputation intact

Bangalore,Sept 2: Sport lovers across the world expressed a sigh of relief, when they came to know that swimming legend Ian Thorpe was cleared of doping allegations by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority. It would have been blemish to the all sporting community if he was found guilty of doping.

Thorpe is known to be the one of the gentleman face of sports. His humble attitude and integrity has earned him a praise from his peers,the public and admiration internationally. The way he has managed his success and his genuine humility and his commitment to helping others that most people find incredible has earned him respect and administration internationally. It was difficult to fathom how a a 24 year old can achieved so much at such a young age. It is All this received a blow when he was accused in the doping controversy.

Ian Thorpe"s achievements in the water are nothing short of phenomenal. He is one of the Australia 's most prolific sportsmen. Ian has broken 22 world records,has won three gold and two silver medals at his first Olympic games and two gold, one silver and one bronze at the recent 2004 Athens Olympics and in doing so has become Australia's greatest ever Olympian. He has won 11 World Championship titles (the most ever), ten Commonwealth Games gold medals and nine Pan Pacific titles. He is currently the world record holder for the 200m and 400m freestyle events and is a member of the world record team for the 4 x 200m freestyle relay (plus holds the short course world records in the 200m and 4 x 200m freestyle events). Ian also broke the Commonwealth record in the 200m individual medley event at the 2003 Australian Championships and again at the 2003 World Championship in Barcelona. Ian"s unbelievable achievements have also given him international celebrity status

Thorpe's reputation came under attack in March when it was revealed FINA called in the Court of Arbitration for Sport to probe a test Thorpe took last May before his November retirement. The news of Thorpe's probe was originally published in French sports news paper L'Equipe after the details were leaked from a still unknown source.


The 24-year-old underwent a random drug test taken in May last year before his retirement that showed unusually high levels of testosterone and leutenising hormone. Thorpe and his legal team, headed by lawyer Tony O, Reilly ,have since spent close to five months gathering exhaustive medical evidence to cleat the Olympic Champions name.

"I have always been, and remain, a strong supporter of anti-doping testing. I firmly believe drugs have no place in sport. I took my obligations to comply with the anti-doping codes very seriously and prided myself on" said Thorpe.










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