Australia's world and Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe watches the evening programme at the World Aquatics Championships in Melbourne yesterday. Australian swimming officials have demanded an explanation about the leaking of an alleged doping investigation involving retired Thorpe.- ReutersMELBOURNE, (Reuters):
MICHAEL PHELPS won a record-equalling sixth gold medal at the world swimming championships yesterday to remain on course for his historic bid to win eight titles.
After a day when great Australian Ian Thorpe's name was dragged into a drugs controversy, the 21-year-old Phelps beat his American teammate Ian Crocker in a frantic finish to win the 100 metres butterfly final in 50.77 seconds.
Phelps put himself within reach of the once-unimaginable feat of winning eight gold medals at a single championships.
The only other man to win six titles at a single world championships was Thorpe, at Fukuoka, Japan, in 2001. American Mark Spitz won seven golds at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
under investigation
It emerged yesterday that Thorpe is being investigated after a test last May returned irregular levels of naturally-occurring hormones.
But the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority said there was no evidence to suggest any doping offence. Thorpe, who retired late last year, will hold a news conference today.
The story may have cast a shadow over yesterday's action in the pool but Phelps is now an overwhelming favourite to complete his quest for eight golds on today's final night of competition by winning the 400 individual medley and helping the U.S. win the 4x100 medley relay.
"Honestly I thought I'd botched the finish, I didn't think the finish was very good, but it ended up being good enough," Phelps told reporters after his latest success.
"So far we're six for six and we're definitely headed where we want to go. But tomorrow's a hard day, I've got to be ready to get up and get in the finals and then have two solid races."
The 100 butterfly was always regarded as Phelps's most difficult race with Crocker having won the past two world titles and holding the world record.
Crocker led the race virtually throughout and looked the likely winner as they approached the finish but, just as he did at the 2004 Athens Olympics, he mistimed his lunge and had to take one last stroke, allowing Phelps to get his hands on the wall first.
