Key swim dope vote

The world swimming authorities are due to decide on Tuesday whether to fall into line with other sports and reduce the ban for using illegal drugs from four years to two years.

A vote will be taken in Perth, Australia, where the world championships are about to be held, amid allegations that China has emerged as the dominant swimming nation only because of a policy of systematic doping.

Australia and the United States have treated with suspicion recent results in which Chinese women swimmers broke world records and topped world rankings in many individual events.

China has denied any wrongdoing.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service