Thorpe ruled out of Games
Tuesday, 7 March 2006Australia's Ian Thorpe today pulled out of the Commonwealth Games after failing to recover from illness.
The multiple Olympic champion has been suffering from bronchitis and a viral infection and has been unable to train fully.
Thorpe said: "It has been a very trying time for me.
"As of yesterday, I realised I was going to be of little, if any, benefit to the team.
"I would have been so far off my best it was not worth it."
The news did not come as a total surprise, with Thorpe struggling with the illness since the national trials last month.
The five-time Olympic gold medallist had undergone a number of tests in the last fortnight - including for chronic fatigue syndrome and glandular fever - and admitted he was finding it almost impossible to complete even the most basic training.
Thorpe, 23, added: "I tried to train yesterday afternoon. I had given myself little targets throughout this but I was so far off it.
"I was struggling actually to swim up and down let alone be able to produce anything that was going to warrant me being able to compete.
"It's very frustrating and disappointing that I can't be part of the team competing in Melbourne. It was difficult coming to terms with that but in the end it was the only decision I could come to."
Thorpe's place on the team has been taken by Craig Stevens, who will compete in the 400metres and 1500m freestyle.
