Thorpe’s Comments Draw FINA’s Ire

In the past, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe has expressed doubt about the sport’s being drug-free, but his latest comments drew a heated response from FINA, the international governing body of swimming.

“For anyone to think that they’re swimming at a clean Olympics, they’d be naive,” Thorpe, who won three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Games, told an Australian TV network. “Of course I’ve swum against athletes that have been on drugs.”

FINA issued a statement Wednesday from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, saying: “FINA strongly condemns such attitude as it is not acceptable that all the swimmers, including Thorpe’s teammates participating at the Olympic Games are accused, without any sustainable evidence that they may ‘have been on drugs.’ ”

Australian distance swimmer Grant Hackett backed up his teammate’s assertions in an interview with ABC Radio in Australia.

“You know, we’ve all probably swum against drug cheaters, but I’ve always said the best thing about that is being able to beat them and to win the event,” said Hackett, the world-record holder in the 1,500-meter freestyle. “And, you know, it’s a harsh reality we have to face.”

-- Lisa Dillman