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IAN Thorpe has all but ruled out a return to longer distances in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Games IN bEIJING.

Thorpe revealed tonight that he was reluctant to add the 400m freestyle - which he dropped prior to this year’s Commonwealth Games - to his sprint-oriented program.

The 23-year-old elected to ditch his pet 400m event in a bid to concentrate on the 100m.

The situation is unlikely to change after a strain of glandular fever robbed him of an appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Thorpe said he would discuss his pre-Olympic program with coach Tracy Menzies in October, but he doubted whether longer distances would feature.

“Shorter’s almost more definite than longer at the moment,” a slightly out-of-shape Thorpe said.

“I’ve got to race first in some minor meets and then probably around October we’ll make our decision on what I’ll be swimming in the next 12 months.

“It will be based towards Beijing.”

Thorpe returned to training in Sydney last week, but he has increased his work load at the national youth sprint camp in Townsville this week.

However, his recovery from the illness that kept him out of the Commonwealth Games, as well as a broken hand suffered at home last month, has stunted his progress.

Thorpe said he would continue to ease himself back into the pool, and he pleaded with journalists meeting him for the first time not to shake his hand too hard.

“I have a lot of titanium in there now,” he said.

“My hand’s still a bit sore in the pool but I’m on the right track now.

“I think I’ve got my bad luck out of the way.”

Thorpe said he would target a three-meet series in Europe next month as his return to competitive swimming before setting up base on the west coast of the US.

“I’m not at competition speed or form at the moment so I’m trying to make up for lost time,” he said.

“But you’re also wary of trying to do it too quickly because it will have an adverse effect.

“I hope and I think that in three months I’ll be swimming well again.”

Thorpe admitted there was a chance of suffering a relapse of the illness if he rushed his return, but he said there was “nothing conclusive” to prove so.

He will be joined in the Townsville camp next week by former Australia swim team captain Grant Hackett, who will return from a shoulder reconstruction at a Grand Prix meet in Brisbane this weekend.