Swimming: FINA, the world governing body for swimming, have asked for a report that Ian Thorpe tested positive for a banned substance last year to be investigated.
FINA confirmed in a statement they have referred a doping control test conducted by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) in 2006 to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
French newspaper L'Equipe claim five-time Olympic gold-medallist Thorpe returned an inconclusive doping test in May 2006 with abnormally high readings for testosterone and luteinizing hormone, both banned substances.
And, though Thorpe was not named directly in the statement, FINA confirmed reports from "foreign media" that doping tests conducted in May last year by ASADA had been referred to CAS for further investigation.
"Following the report by a sector of the foreign media, FINA confirms that an appeal has been lodged to CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) on a doping control test conducted by ASADA (Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority)," a statement read.
"The FINA Doping Control Review Board (DCRB), consisting of experts on doping issues and directors of several WADA approved laboratories, considered the findings of this sample as an adverse analytical result.
"Based on their professional expertise and recommendation, and according to FINA Rules, an appeal has been lodged to CAS with the aim of clarifying the issues surrounding this case.
"On the tests conducted by a National Anti-Doping Agency or National Federation, the procedure is that FINA receives the result of the laboratory analysis, which states only the number of the respective sample and not the name of the athlete.
"As the matter now rests with CAS, FINA cannot make any further comment on this issue."
Since May last year, Thorpe has been tested three times by FINA with out-of-competition tests held on July 29th, August 28th and November 10th.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard gave Thorpe his backing.
"I don't intend to react to, let alone endorse, unsubstantiated allegations in a French newspaper," Howard said.
"As far as I'm concerned, until solid evidence of the contrary is produced Ian Thorpe remains a great Australian champion." PA