Swimmer suspended over 'Kosovo' T-shirt

Serbia's Milorad Cavic celebrates on the podium after winning the gold medal in the men's 50m butterfly during the European swimming championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, on Wednesday. Cavic won in a new European record time of 23:11. His T-shirt bears the words ``Kosovo is Serbia.'' Cavic was expelled from the remainder of the tournament on Friday after a disciplinary hearing by event organizers. PHOTO: AP

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.

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 yesterday.

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

The Serbian swimming federation was fined 7,000 euros (US$10,800).

Cavic's manager said yesterday he had just received the news and could not comment. Cavic had been due to swim in the heats of the 100m freestyle yesterday and the 100m butterfly this morning.

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

"I didn't do it to provoke anger, I didn't do it to provoke violence," Cavic told reporters. "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 on Feb. 17 and has been recognized by countries including the US, Japan and powerful EU 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.

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