Aussies Say “Si” to Rosolino, “Come on Down!”

By Stephen J. Thomas

SYDNEY, Australia, June 5. AUSTRALIAN Swimming's Ian Hanson said today he would welcome the opportunity to have Italian swimming champion Massimiliano Rosolino in the Australian team.

Rosolino, the 2000 Olympic champion in the 200m IM and a triple Olympic medalist in Sydney has both Italian and Australian citizenship, as his mother is an Aussie. He told a news conference yesterday that he was considering leaving Italy for Australia because of new allegations by a former Mafia member that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

"He's one of the world's best swimmers, not only in the medley where he's the Olympic and world champion, but also in the 200m and 400m freestyle," said Hanson. "I mean he really would put a lot of pressure on our guys in that (4 x 200 meter) relay.

"He's a wonderful all-round swimmer, and would certainly slot very nicely into the Australian team."

However, Hanson warned that any athlete wanting to compete for Australia should be aware he faces tougher drug testing here than anywhere else in the world.
"If he does decide to come to Australia, he's going to be under probably the most stringent drug-testing regime of any sport," Hanson said.

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