Alan Thompson, head coach to the Dolphins, has confirmed to the Australian media that he has received official notification of Ian Thorpe's retirment and has forwarded it to FINA, the International Swimming Federation.

No way back, then, for Thorpe, at least not without serving a nine-month waiting period, during which he must be drug-tested but would not be allowed to race.

Thorpe will be honoured at the a special dinner for swimmers who have retired on Monday night in Brisbane, where Australia's trials for the 2007 world championships end that day. He will be surrounded by the active Dolphins one last time in that sense. A poignant moment.