The mother of Australian swimming sensation Ian Thorpe has blamed "the politics of envy" after fresh accusations that the world record holder could be using human growth hormones.
Margaret Thorpe sprang to the defense of her son after German swim team captain Chris Carol Bremer suggested in an interview with an Australian newspaper that Thorpe's size 17 feet and big hands could be the result of using human growth hormones.
"The politics of envy has a lot to do with it," Margaret Thorpe told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio Thursday, responding to the story in the Melbourne Herald Sun.
"It is their (the accusers') guilty conscience. They can't see anybody performing without enhancing drugs, because that is how they perform. So, as far as they can see, you must be on it," she said.
Thorpe's mother said her son had always had huge feet and hands.
"I can assure you human growth hormones have had nothing to do with it," she said.
"I have been watching his feet growing from when he was a baby, and no booties fitted him. When he was a schoolboy, no school shoes fitted.
"If people looked at the genetics, they would see why he has big feet. I have size 11 in women's, my husband has size 13 and his sister size 10.
"Everybody should realize he has come from large stock."
Margaret Thorpe said it was unfortunate there was no test Ian could take to prove his innocence.
"There is nothing that will show that he is taking nothing," she said. "It's a shame."
"But he has told us he would like his blood to be frozen so that, in future, when they have worked out tests, his blood can always be tested to show that he was not a drug cheat.
"He is very open about this. We know he doesn't take anything. He will not even take medicine from the doctor when he gets sick. So why would he take drugs?"
Bremer told Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper the public should be made aware of the side effects of using banned growth hormones.
Ian Thorpe would not comment Thursday on the latest suggestion, saying his management company would handle the issue – (AFP)
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