Sullivan out of Rome worlds with virus

Australia's world 100-metre freestyle record holder Eamon Sullivan will miss this month's Rome World Championships with a virus, Swimming Australia said yesterday.

Sullivan, who has been in Europe for the last six weeks, has struggled to overcome an illness that has hampered his training and race preparation, team officials said. The 23-year-old withdrew from the Barcelona and Monaco legs of the Mare Nostrum Series last month before competing at the Paris Open and in Milan.

But he is still suffering from the virus and will return to Australia this week for further diagnosis, officials said.

Sullivan held on to his 100m world record of 47.05 seconds from last year's Beijing Olympics after world governing body FINA ruled out French Olympic champion Alain Bernard's 46.94-second swim at the French championships in April.

FINA did not approve the time because Bernard was wearing Arena's 'X-Glide' swimsuit, which did not comply with the organisation's regulations.

Sullivan was entered in the 50m and 100m freestyle events at the world championships, beginning on July 26.

The Australians have also lost another team member with backstroker Hayden Stoeckel succumbing to a shoulder injury last week. Swimming Australia said Beijing Olympic medallist Stoeckel had been training in Adelaide but had not recovered sufficiently from the injury.

Stoeckel, 24, who was set to swim the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke events in Rome, will stay at home for treatment.