US relay disqualification costs Phelps shot at 8 golds

MELBOURNE, Apr 1 (Reuters) Michael Phelps' bid to win eight gold medals at the world swimming championships was ruined today when the United States was disqualified from the heats of the men's 4x100 metres medley relay.

Phelps had already won a record-equalling six titles in Melbourne and was expected to win his final two events on the last day of competition to make it eight from eight.

He safely qualified for the 400 individual medley but lost his chance to compete in an eighth final when the Americans were disqualified from the medley relay heats when Ian Crocker left the starting blocks one-hundredth of a second too early.

''Michael was doing something no one has ever done before and I think everyone is going to be disappointed,'' said Neil Walker, who swam the concluding freestyle leg.

''It is the way swimming goes sometimes, it's pretty exciting even in the preliminaries because every team out there is so fast, you dont want to be slow.'' The Americans were overwhelming favourites to win the medley relay and set the fastest heat time despite resting their best swimmers, including Phelps, for the final.

Crocker, who swam the butterfly leg, left the blocks 0.04 seconds before Scott Usher had completed the breaststroke leg.

Swimmers are allowed to leave the blocks up to 0.03 seconds early to allow them to start their dive. It was the first time the US had failed to make the final of any relay at the world championships since they began in 1973.

'HURTING' The 21-year-old Phelps qualified fastest for the 400 individual medley in a time of four minutes, 12.01 seconds, well outside his world record of 4:08.26.

Luca Marin of Italy was second fastest in 4:13.33 with Tunia's 800 freestyle champion Oussama Mellouli third in 4:13.44. American 200 backstroke world record holder Ryan Lochte fourth in 4:13.71.

Phelps has already won four individual and two relay titles this week and set four world records, but the effort has taken its toll and he admitted to reporters before the relay that he was ''hurting a little bit''.

Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry also incurred the wrath of the judges when she was disqualified from the heats of the women's 400 individual medley.

Coventry, a silver medallist in the event at the last world championships in Montreal, was disqualified for touching the wall with only one hand after completing her breaststroke leg.

Under the sport's rules, breaststrokers have to touch the wall with both hands.

America's defending champion Katie Hoff topped the qualifiers in 4:38.21, just ahead of Australian Jennifer Reilly 4:40.12 and Yana Martynova of Russia (4:42.65).

REUTERS SAM BST1005