Spreading tentacles

With a new crop of youngsters maturing and officials insisting the nation8217;s drug-stained is behind them, a clean and successful campaign at the pool in Busan will stand them in good stead ahead of the Athens Olympics in 2004.

However, while 200m breaststroke world record holder Quihui is on the Chinese team sheet, 200m individual medley world record holder Wu Yanyan is not.

Chinese officials say she has retired.

Luo Nan, the second fastest woman in the world this year behind Qi Hui in the 200m breaststroke, is also missing.

Despite official FINA records showing she has been in electric form, a Chinese swimming association spokesman said she failed to qualify for the Games due to 8220;health8221; and 8220;poor results8221;.

Another notable absentee is Zhang Liang who rewrote Chinese national records in the women8217;s freestyle events at China8217;s National Games last year but who has since disappeared from competition, fuelling rumours that she set the marks with the help of drugs.

Double world champion Luo Xuejuan however is a definite starter in South Korea.

Qi will be hot favourite in her disciplines and having posted a time close to her 2.22.99 world record this season, a new world mark is within reach.