Cavic banned

Serbia's swimming federation was fined 7,000 euros for the breach of rules at his 50 metres butterfly victory ceremony earlier this week, governing body LEN announced.

American-based Cavic wore the T-shirt bearing the words 'Kosovo is Serbia' in his own language after breaking the European 50m butterfly record for the second time in two days to win Serbia's first-ever European swimming title.

Serbia are not due to swim the two remaining men's relays, so he is effectively out of the Championships.

LEN said in a statement that its disciplinary panel met on Thursday to conduct a hearing with those involved and found that the inscription on the T-shirt "constitutes a clear political action in violation of the LEN Guidelines for Safety and Security".

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica expressed his disappointment, urging LEN to withdraw the suspension.

"I appeal to all reasonable and responsible in the swimming federation to enable Cavic to compete," Kostunica stated. "The whole country is proud of Milorad Cavic and his result."

Cavic, who was born in Anaheim, California, and lives in Islamorada, Florida, had been due to swim in the 100m freestyle heats on Friday and had the fastest entry time for the 100m butterfly heats on Saturday.

Cavic, 23, was sixth in both the 50 and 100 butterfly at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne. The 100 butterfly is an Olympic event but the 50 butterfly is not.