Swimming Australia shows support for Thorpe
Former Olympic champion Ian Thorpe of Australia reportedly tested positive for testosterone and a banned hormone in 2006.

The 24-year-old, who retired in November, was a major star of the sport, winning five Olympic crowns and eleven world titles, while aslo setting 23 world records.

But according to French newspaper L'Equipe website, he tested positive for abnormally high levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone.

L'Equipe said the Australian Sport Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) decided to close Thorpe's case after studying the evidence.

However, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an effort to reopen the file.

Swimming Australia (SA) has expressed disappointment that retired swimmer Ian Thorpe has been linked to a drug investigation.

Swimming's world governing body FINA confirmed it had lodged an appeal against the findings of a drug test returned by an Australian athlete.

But FINA officials have refused to confirm that the sample in question was provided by Thorpe, who announced his retirement last November.

French sporting newspaper L'Equipe has published allegations that the sample in question was provided by Thorpe.

The paper claimed Thorpe returned a test showing abnormal levels of testosterone and another hormone in May last year.

The ABC has received no official confirmation about the results of the test and has attempted to contact Thorpe through his management.

SA chief executive officer Glenn Tasker said his organisation had not been notified of the investigation.

"If it is Ian Thorpe, then somebody has leaked that information," he said

"His privacy has been grossly invaded and it's not good for that athlete, but it's not good for any athlete around the world."

Mr Tasker said national coach Alan Thompson spoke to Thorpe this morning.

"Alan Spoke to Ian directly," he said. "I can't tell you what they spoke about only that Ian was obviously shocked. His manager, I believe, had gone back home to Sydney but is on route to Melbourne."

FINA confirmed it was questioning the results of a test conducted by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and had made an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The L'Equipe report claimed that ASADA decided to close its file on the test because of insufficient evidence.

FINA's doping experts have described the sample taken from the athlete as having an "adverse analytical result".