Aussies face new swimming ban

13 April 2012

Germany called for the disqualification of Olympic champions Australia from the men's 4x200 metres freestyle relay today, alleging there had been a faulty changeover in this morning's heats.

Christa Thiel, president of the German swimming federation, said one of the Australian swimmers had started before his incoming team-mate had touched the wall. All the changeovers were legitimate, according to the official results, but Thiel said the German team understood that one had been 0.06 seconds premature. A margin of only

0.03sec is permitted. The Germans, supported by the US and Britain, have protested to world swimming's governing body FINA.

Britain won gold in the women's 4x200 freestyle relay on Wednesday after Australia and America were disqualified.

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