'Thorpedo' pulls out of Melbourne Games

SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- Swimming legend Ian Thorpe has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia because of illness.

The swimmer told a news conference that he was withdrawing from the Games, which start in the southern city of Melbourne next week, because of bronchitis and a chest infection.

"It's very frustrating, it's very disappointing," Thorpe said at the news conference which was broadcast live on Australian television.

"But in the end it was the only decision I could come to," he said.

Thorpe has been battling the effects of bronchitis for the past month but was unable to take any prescribed drugs that could have cleared up the problem because the medication is on the banned list.

"But it wouldn't have been a good performance by me if I did compete ... I would have been of little, if any, benefit to the team," Thorpe said.

"I would have done more damage than good if I had competed."

Australia's head coach Alan Thompson said Craig Stevens, a training partner of Thorpe, would replace him in the Australian team, already weakened by the loss of long-distance specialist Grant Hackett.

"This is a huge loss to the team," Thompson said.

Thorpe, who is nicknamed "The Thorpedo", had been planning to make his international comeback at the Commonwealth Games after taking a break following the 2004 Athens Olympics.

The 23-year-old won four gold medals at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia then a record six at Manchester, England four years ago.

Thorpe had entered five events in Melbourne.

Participants in the Commonwealth Games come from nations which originally formed Britain's colonial empire.


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