SWIMMING:ALAIN BERNARD of France set a world record in the 100 metres freestyle semi-finals at the European Championships in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, last night. But much of the attention was on the decision of Len, the European governing body, to suspend Milorad Cavic of Serbia for the rest of the championships for wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with "Kosovo is Serbia" at the victory ceremony for the men's 50 metres butterfly.

Len concluded that Cavic had broken their guidelines, saying his stance constituted a clear political action. But he will keep the gold medal he won in the butterfly final, but is out of the rest of the championships.

Bernard broke the eight-year record, held by Dutch hero Peter van den Hoogenband which was set at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The Frenchman swam 47.60 seconds to break the old mark by 0.24 of a second.

Van den Hoogenband, who turned 30 last week, pulled out of the morning's heats, having been ill during the week. On Wednesday, he had failed to make the semi-finals of the 200 freestyle, an event he has won at four European championships.

Bernard turned at the 50-metre mark in 22.88, well inside Van den Hoogenband's record split of 23.16.

Bernard (24), had been second-fastest overall in the heats in 48.70, behind compatriot Fabien Gilot (48.51). Gilot won the second semi-final in 48.68.

Bernard had stood joint-third on the all-time list with world champion Filippi Magnini of Italy with a best time of 48.12, behind Van den Hoogenband (47.84) and Sweden's Stefan Nystrand (47.91).

There were no Irish in the finals as Dubliner Barry Murphy's heat time of 51.37 was over half a second outside his Irish record in the 100 freestyle and only good enough for a lowly 54th place.

"It was a tough swim," said Murphy after his heat. "I felt good up until 75 metres and then the wheels fell off. But I was just using the 100 as a warm-up swim for the 50 breaststroke and the 50 freestyle.

"I was looking for easy speed, trying to stay as relaxed as possible. I think the speed is there for the rest of the weekend. I'm looking to swim fast here and I feel like the work that I have done (at the University of Tennessee) will pay off and I will be able to get the Olympic 50 free qualifying time (22.35)."

Murphy was a semi-finalist in the 50 freestyle at the Europeans two years ago and hopes to make the Olympic qualifying A standard in the event this week, or at the Irish Long Course Nationals in May.

"I made the semi-finals two years ago in Budapest and that must be my first aim here, as evening swims are better and I can light it up. It's hard to get going in the mornings, but I think I will definitely do a last 16 on Sunday."

All five Irish swimmers will be in the pool this morning. Melanie Nocher and Claire Dawson go in the 200 freestyle, while Dawson is also competing in the 50 freestyle along with Aisling Cooney.

Murphy swims the 50 breaststroke heats.