Swimmer suspended over T-shirt
21/03/2008 11:38  - (SA)  

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Netherlands - A Serb swimmer has been suspended for the remainder of the European swimming championships for wearing a T-shirt proclaiming "Kosovo is Serbia" at a medal presentation ceremony.

A disciplinary panel meeting of the European swimming league, LEN, ruled the T-shirt worn by Milorad Cavic as he collected gold for the 50m butterfly on Wednesday "constitutes a clear political action" that violated rules, LEN said in a statement on Friday.

"As a consequence, the panel has decided to suspend Mr. Milorad Cavic from further participation in individual events at the ... European swimming championships."

The Serbian swimming federation also was fined $10 800.

Cavic could not immediately be reached for comment. He had been due to swim in the heats of the 100 butterfly on Friday morning.

Cavic, an American-born Serb, said on Thursday he was just trying to send "positive energy" to the country he represents.

Congratulated

"I didn't do it to provoke anger, I didn't do it to provoke violence," Cavic said. "The country is torn apart and ... my goal was just to uplift them."

Serb television and newspapers carried photos and images of Cavic in his red T-shirt , but the emphasis was more on his victory and record than his T-shirt. The country's president and prime minister both congratulated Cavic on his win.

Kosovo, a former Serbian province with an ethnic Albanian majority, declared independence February 17 and has been recognised by countries including the United States, Japan and powerful European Union nations.

However, Belgrade strongly objects to losing a province many Serbs consider the historical cradle of the nation. The Serbian government says the independence declaration was illegal and has recalled ambassadors from nations that have recognized Kosovo as a new nation.

Kosovo had not been under Serbian control since a Nato force moved in on the heels of massive air strikes in 1999 that ended a brutal Serb crackdown on secessionist rebels in the province.

"What is my wearing a shirt going to do to change the minds of the United States, United Nations or European Union," he said.

"This is already a done deal. All I wanted to do was uplift my people. My only role here was to be a leader and transfer positive energy."

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