Thorpe cleared by ASADA

Retired swimmer Ian Thorpe has been cleared of doping charges by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) after urine tests last year showed high levels of  two banned substances.

The French newspaper L'Equipe reported in March this year that the 24-year-old had tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and epitestosterone in May 2006.

ASADA originally decided not to investigate the doping allegation because it believed the substances were naturally occurring but it was forced to look into the issue when swimming's international governing body, FINA, appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

But ASADA has now confirmed that Thorpe has no case to answer and have cleared him of any wrongdoing.

'The evidence available does not indicate the use of performance enhancing substances by Mr. Thorpe,' ASADA said in a statement.

'He has no case to answer.'