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Cape Town - South Africa's former backstroke world champion Gerhard Zandberg has announced that his swimming career is over.
Zandberg, 30, has been embroiled in a battle to clear his name in recent times after he was found guilty by Swimming SA (SSA) for breaking team rules during the FINA World Championships in Barcelona in August.
He was slapped with a R50 000 cash fine and a year's community service after switching rooms without SSA's consent. He promptly appealed the decision.
According to the Beeld website, Zandberg has not indicated whether the appeal was successful but did state that it had an influence on his decision to retire.
Swimming SA reportedly took 15 days to inform him on the result of his appeal after initially stating it would take only a week.
He confirmed the news of his retirement via his Twitter account on Wednesday.
"Today...my swimming career has come to an end," he tweeted.
Zandberg was the 2007 world champion in the 50m backstroke and won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games as part of South Africa's 4x100-freestyle relay team.
He also took part in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
Zandberg, 30, has been embroiled in a battle to clear his name in recent times after he was found guilty by Swimming SA (SSA) for breaking team rules during the FINA World Championships in Barcelona in August.
He was slapped with a R50 000 cash fine and a year's community service after switching rooms without SSA's consent. He promptly appealed the decision.
According to the Beeld website, Zandberg has not indicated whether the appeal was successful but did state that it had an influence on his decision to retire.
Swimming SA reportedly took 15 days to inform him on the result of his appeal after initially stating it would take only a week.
He confirmed the news of his retirement via his Twitter account on Wednesday.
"Today...my swimming career has come to an end," he tweeted.
Zandberg was the 2007 world champion in the 50m backstroke and won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games as part of South Africa's 4x100-freestyle relay team.
He also took part in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
