Thorpe attacks FINA

IAN THORPE has launched another attack on swimming's world governing body, FINA, accusing it of not doing enough in the war against drugs.

The multiple World record holder told Australia's Channel Seven that he suspects the recent World championship in Barcelona was not free of drug cheats. "I don't think it will ever be a clean championship, which is an unfortunate thing to say," Thorpe added.

Thorpe's comments come after FINA announced it was dropping its four-year ban for first-time steroid offences and adopting a two-year ban in line with the new global anti-doping code, which all Olympic sports federations are required to follow.

Swimming has been plunged into a series of doping scandals in recent years including the 1998 World championship when a Chinese swimmer was caught smuggling human growth hormone into Australia and four of her team-mates were banned for using diuretics. Thorpe criticised FINA at the last World championships in Japan, where he won a record six gold medals, for failing to take a stronger stance against drugs and said he will continue to speak out against them.

"I think I've been critical in the past and I'll continue to be critical in the future until it's a clean sport," he said.