26 Jul 2011

Controversial swimmer wins world title

7:29 am on 26 July 2011

The controversial Brazilian swimmer Cesar Cielo defied a storm of criticism to win gold at the world swimming championships in Shanghai.

Cielo, who was cleared to swim despite failing a doping test, sobbed uncontrollably on the podium after his 50m butterfly win.

The Olympic champion was let off with a warning after he claimed the failed test at the Brazilian Champs in May came from a contaminated caffeine supplement.

He was booed by a section of the athletes, but told the media afterwards he just wanted to move on.

Three Brazilian team-mates also tested positive for the diuretic, which can mask performance-enhancing drugs.