Amid protestations of heterosexuality, homosexuality and friendship, it appears that perhaps someone over at the Thorpe camp has gotten their facts confused.

Thorpe again denies rumours he is gay after he was photographed with swimmer Daniel Mendes on holiday in Brazil where they had been visiting Mendes' family.

Thorpe's management issued a statement pointing to his comments in a 2007 magazine article in which he spoke of his affair with swimmer Amanda Beard.

"Well, I did have a long-term, long-distance relationship (with champion American breaststroker Amanda Beard), and it was great while it lasted. It was sort of public knowledge we were seeing each other, and yet not. It went on for ages, years," he was quoted as saying.

Take out the word relationship and put in the word friendship and that's exactly what it was.

Unfortunately, Beard yesterday told her agent: "Take out the word relationship and put in the word friendship and that's exactly what it was."

According to Beard, she has never been romantically involved with Thorpe. "To her it was absolutely a long-term, long distance friendship and that's all it ever was."

Oh dear...

So maybe Thorpe's management got it the wrong way around? He actually was friends with Beard and in a relationship with Mendes?

Maybe instead of Amanda Beard, he wants "Amanda Hug'n'Hold"?

Tags: Daniel Mendes, ian thope gay, ian thorpe