Ian Thorpe Cleared of Doping Charges in Australia, FINA Meeting Still On Tap
MELBOURNE, Australia, August 31. ACCORDING to various media reports in Australia, the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) cleared retired swimming superstar Ian Thorpe of doping allegations and considers the case closed. Yesterday, ASADA held a news conference to make the announcement stating that its six-month investigation into the allegations has concluded. FINA, however, will still double-check the findings of ASADA in a meeting still to come.
Initial reports of the investigation can be found here, as well as Thorpe's initial public response.
Earlier this month, Thorpe provided medical evidence to ASADA explaining why doping tests returned unusual levels of testosterone, epitestosterone and luteinizing hormones, as reported here.
Meanwhile, concerns have been brought up regarding L'Equipe's timing of its reports initially brining the Thorpe investigation to public light. As reported here, L'Equipe reporter Damien Ressiot may have contradicted himself in two separate articles regarding the timing of the article.