Sponsor boils Stephanie Rice after 'anti-gay' tweet

Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice has lost her sponsorship contract with Jaguar after making an alleged anti-gay comment on a social networking site, local media reported on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old swimmer courted controversy with a "faggot" remark on Twitter following Australia's nail-biting 41-39 victory over South Africa in Bloemfontein at the weekend.

Rice subsequently apologised and deleted the comment but could not save her contract with the luxury car brand.

"We made a decision yesterday, and we've terminated the agreement with her," Mark Eedle, Jaguar Australia's marketing and public affairs manager, was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Rice will also lose the Jaguar XF car she was given in February when the deal was inked.