Ian Thorpe is steering clear of the debate over doping in swimming after being reprimanded by the sport's world governing body, FINA.

The Australian has long been critical of the procedures to catch drug cheats but is keeping quiet after his comments landed him in hot water.

FINA issued a statement last month condemning Thorpe for bringing the sport into disrepute after he said it was naive to think all swimmers at the Athens Olympics were drug free.

Thorpe has not changed his view but told a news conference yesterday he did not want to discuss the issue until the Olympics were over.

"I did say that I don't think that all swimmers in the sport are clean," he said. "It's quite clear how I feel about this but I don't have the energy to discuss this at every press conference.

"Seeing everyone knows my opinion I'm not going to say anything else about this until after the Olympics."

Despite his reluctance to make any further comments, Thorpe was pressed for his view on the use of blood tests. He said he welcomed the increased testing but more still needed to be done.

"Obviously blood testing is a very important part of the testing procedure," he said. "But it's also the out-of-competition test that becomes important and I think that still has to be addressed as part of the issue."

With the Games set to open on Friday, the International Olympic Committee yesterday reiterated its "no tolerance" stand on doping and corruption in sport.

"Unethical behaviour of some individuals should not reflect on the whole organisation," IOC president Jacques Rogge told his 120-plus members. He acknowledged: "No organisation is perfect."

Rogge's comments came three days after the IOC backed up its tough stance with action.

On Saturday, Bulgarian IOC member Ivan Slavkov was suspended following allegations of corruption in a British television documentary broadcast last week.

Slavkov's accreditation to the Athens Games was immediately withdrawn. He has vowed to fight to clear his name and that of his country.

"This (action) shows the resolve of the IOC to have zero tolerance of corruption," Rogge said at the time. "I am angry with the behaviour of some people . . . I am angry because the behaviour of some is harming a beautiful movement . . . a movement of volunteers who love sport.

"I can assure you, under my leadership, the IOC will be 100 per cent respectful of the rules."

Slavkov and Serbian sports agent Goran Takach were shown in a BBC programme last Wednesday discussing ways to secure votes for choosing the site of the 2012 Games with undercover journalists posing as business agents.

Three other agents close to the Olympic movement and familiar with the bidding process also featured in the documentary.

Takach, Gabor Komyathy, Mahmood El Farnawani and Muttaleb Ahmad were also condemned by the IOC.

"They are personae non gratae within the Olympic movement," Rogge said.