Phelps Steals Serbian Gold

DAISY DeLAURES | August 15, 2008 02:27 PM EST |

"You'd know how much respect I've got for Michael Phelps," says Cavic. He does not question the judges' final decision but should he? Is he ignorant or a part of conspiracy to defraud Serbia of its well deserved gold?

Serbian officials have been afforded an opportunity to examine the high speed video recording of the finish. A Serbian Olympic Committee member who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that although the video seemingly showed Phelps finishing a fraction of a centimeter ahead of Cavic there are still unanswered questions.

For example, the Chinese officials did not make the recording available until hours after the race providing an ample time to manipulate the images. Eyewitnesses have reported unusual activity in the section of the TV studio used by Abigophoto immediately after the race. Abigophoto is the American contractor who supplies and maintains high speed finish video equipment for sporting events.

The same official said that the Serbian Olympic team has retained services of the Swiss Advanced Optical Institute to examine the video record. "Underwater photographic photo finish is not as black and white as in let's say track and field," says Antoine Aveugle the head of Visual Forensic Division at the Institute. "Due to light refraction in water it is possible to perceive that a hand is touching a sensor although it could 1-2 centimeters away."

Micheal Phelps sponsor Omega is the official timekeeper of the games. According to a former employee the touchpad sensors installed in the pools are designed to respond to hand touch and have a very low failure rate but the electronic records are prone to manipulation unless safeguarded according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

Could it be that Micheal Phelps' purported victory over Milorad Cavic is just an optical mirage, a result of egregious manipulation of the records or all of the above? Time will show if the denial of Serbian gold is an attempt to teach the Serbian people another lesson in American covert foreign policy.

A preliminary forensic study shows Milorad Cavic touching the finish line ahead of Michael Phelps.