SYDNEY, Australia -- Swimming's world governing body FINA have promised to carry out a full investigation into how details of Ian Thorpe's drug test results were leaked to the French newspaper L'Equipe.
Swimming Australia chief executive Glenn Tasker said FINA want to hire a private investigator to help trace the person responsible for leaking the confidential information that Thorpe had produced a sample in May last year that showed elevated levels of naturally-occurring hormones.
Swimming and doping officials have confirmed that Thorpe did not fail the test and there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing but the retired Olympic champion said his reputation had already been tarnished.
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), that carried out the test, are launching a separate investigation, but said they were confident they were not the source of the leak.
"We do need to get our head around this and understand where in the system, between ASADA and our various international partners, it was possible for a journalist from a French language newspaper to get access to some of this information," ASADA chairman Richard Ings told reporters.
Thorpe told a news conference in Melbourne that he had never cheated and was confident of being cleared of any doping offences but feared the publicity surrounding the case had damaged his reputation.
He said the leaking of the test report was a serious breach of the confidentiality agreements designed to protect innocent athletes.
Thorpe's lawyer Tony O'Reilly said legal action would be considered once the culprit was found.
Thorpe is regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time, winning five Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles and setting 13 world records since bursting on to the world stage as a 15-year-old at the 1998 world championships.
Thorpe won three gold medals as a 17-year-old at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 200 and 400 meters freestyle double at the 2004 Athens Olympics but never swam at international level again.
He announced his retirement in November 2006, saying he had lost motivation and wanted to do something else with his life.
WADA worry
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) expressed its concern on Monday at the serious breach of confidentiality that occurred.
"WADA is especially shocked that the name of an athlete was apparently given to the media while no adverse analytical finding has been determined at this point," the body said in a statement.
"This particular case has not led to an analytical positive result, but is rather an unusual situation which is subject to further inquiry," it said without naming Thorpe.
"Only when this process is completed and if an adverse analytical finding is then made, will WADA be informed of an athlete's name."
WADA said it would discuss ways to strengthen confidentiality provisions as part of its World Anti-Doping Code review, which culminates at a conference in Madrid from November 15 to 17.
Swimming Australia chief executive Glenn Tasker said FINA want to hire a private investigator to help trace the person responsible for leaking the confidential information that Thorpe had produced a sample in May last year that showed elevated levels of naturally-occurring hormones.
Swimming and doping officials have confirmed that Thorpe did not fail the test and there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing but the retired Olympic champion said his reputation had already been tarnished.
The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA), that carried out the test, are launching a separate investigation, but said they were confident they were not the source of the leak.
"We do need to get our head around this and understand where in the system, between ASADA and our various international partners, it was possible for a journalist from a French language newspaper to get access to some of this information," ASADA chairman Richard Ings told reporters.
Thorpe told a news conference in Melbourne that he had never cheated and was confident of being cleared of any doping offences but feared the publicity surrounding the case had damaged his reputation.
He said the leaking of the test report was a serious breach of the confidentiality agreements designed to protect innocent athletes.
Thorpe's lawyer Tony O'Reilly said legal action would be considered once the culprit was found.
Thorpe is regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time, winning five Olympic gold medals, 11 world titles and setting 13 world records since bursting on to the world stage as a 15-year-old at the 1998 world championships.
Thorpe won three gold medals as a 17-year-old at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 200 and 400 meters freestyle double at the 2004 Athens Olympics but never swam at international level again.
He announced his retirement in November 2006, saying he had lost motivation and wanted to do something else with his life.
WADA worry
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) expressed its concern on Monday at the serious breach of confidentiality that occurred.
"WADA is especially shocked that the name of an athlete was apparently given to the media while no adverse analytical finding has been determined at this point," the body said in a statement.
"This particular case has not led to an analytical positive result, but is rather an unusual situation which is subject to further inquiry," it said without naming Thorpe.
"Only when this process is completed and if an adverse analytical finding is then made, will WADA be informed of an athlete's name."
WADA said it would discuss ways to strengthen confidentiality provisions as part of its World Anti-Doping Code review, which culminates at a conference in Madrid from November 15 to 17.
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