MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Australian swim officials huddled Saturday to discuss a report that five-time Olympic gold medalist Ian Thorpe showed “abnormal levels” of two banned substances in a doping test last year before he retired.

The French sports daily L’Equipe reported Saturday that anti-doping officials in Australia threw out the case against the “Thorpedo,” one of the sport’s most recognizable athletes, for lack of scientific proof.

The newspaper said Thorpe turned up with irregular levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone when tested in May 2006. FINA, the governing body of swimming, wants the investigation reopened, L’Equipe reported.

Ian Hanson, a spokesman for Australian Swimming, said officials would meet later today.

“We have not had a chance to discuss it,” Hanson said. “We need to get together to discuss all the facts.”

FINA, organizer of the world championships that end Sunday in Melbourne, planned a news conference with organization president Mustapha Larfaoui.

“That was already scheduled,” FINA spokesman Pedro Adrega said. “Obviously now there will be a few more questions.”

Calls to Thorpe’s manager, Sydney-based Dave Flaskas, were not immediately returned.

Thorpe retired in November at age 24. He did not compete in another major international meet after the 2004 Athens Olympics, scuttling any thoughts of a return because of injuries, illness and a lack of motivation.

Synthetic versions of testosterone, the male hormone, can act like steroids to improve performance. Luteinizing hormone is released by the pituitary gland and produces testosterone in men.

Even though he was not competing, Thorpe was still subjected to regular drug testing until he formally retired.

The swimming community was stunned by the report.

“I don’t want to believe this and I can’t believe it,” said Swiss head coach Gennadi Touretski, who formerly worked with stars such as Michael Klim and Alexander Popov.

FINA has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the highest tribunal in the sports world, to overturn the decision by Australia’s anti-doping agency to close the case, L’Equipe said.

Thorpe won five Olympic gold medals, claimed 11 world titles and set 13 world records in his career. His size-17 feet, trademark black suit and a captivating sense of fashion and style carried him to international stardom.

“He’s the greatest personality I’ve ever met,” Touretski said.

. “For me he’s the greatest man, the greatest personality, and I believe with him everything is fine. I just wish he would come back.”

In November 2005, Thorpe’s return to competitive swimming after a 15-month break lasted one race. He qualified fastest for the 100-meter freestyle final at a World Cup short-course meet in Sydney, then pulled out because he wasn’t feeling well.

Thorpe also was scheduled to swim at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last March, but withdrew a week before they started because of a virus.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Thorpe thrilled his countrymen by winning the 400-meter freestyle and was part of Australia’s winning 400 and 800-meter relay teams. He also took silver in the 200 freestyle and 400 medley relay.

Four years later in Athens, Thorpe won the 200 and 400 freestyle golds and the 100 bronze in Athens, along with a silver in the 800 freestyle relay.

Thorpe followed the Sydney Games with his greatest performance ever. At age 18, he became the first swimmer to win six gold medals at the world championships, claiming three individual titles and taking part in three relay victories in 2001 at Fukuoka, Japan.

Thorpe set world records in all three of his solo wins: the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles. He also was part of the record-setting Australian team in the 800 free relay.

Thorpe still holds the world mark in the 400, which he took even lower at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. His 800 mark was claimed in 2005 by countryman Grant Hackett, while the 200 record fell this week to American Michael Phelps at the worlds in Melbourne.

AP-ES-03-30-07 2210EDT