No inkling of doping in swimming, says Aussie coach

AFP, March, 2007

MELBOURNE (AFP) — Australian head coach Alan Thompson said Wednesday he had no inkling of any performance-enhancing doping in swimming but acknowledged that recreational drugs would always be a worry.

Thompson's remarks came after German coach Orjan Madsen took the extraordinary step of making a statement that his team was drug free in a bid to end suspicion surrounding the country's record-breaking women swimmers.

The previously-unheralded German women, led by Britta Steffen, raised eyebrows last year when they broke three world records at the European championships in Budapest.

"It is unfortunate that in any sport when there is a good time or a good performance the first thought has to go towards that there may be something irrational about it," Thompson told a press conference.

"I think there are some great performances in our sport and it's unfortunate that people have to defend themselves." ...