The Australian was found by police with a combination of antidepressants and medication for a shoulder injury, according to Channel Nine.

It reports he had a medical assessment earlier at a hospital in Sydney, before he was taken to rehab.

"He is in rehab for depression," his manager James Erskine told Australian Associated Press.

"He hadn't had a drink," he added

"He had zero alcohol in him."

Ian Thorpe won nine Olympic gold meals in his career, including five gold, making him one of the greatest swimmers of his generation ©Getty Images


Thorpe, who won three gold medals and two silver medals in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and added a further two gold medals, one silver and one bronze in Athens 2004, had attempted to make a comeback for London 2012.

But the freestyle swimmer was not selected to be part of the Australian team.

Last week, Thorpe's management denied reports the 31-year-old had been in rehab.

In his autobiography, Thorpe said he had spent much of his life battling "crippling depression".