Aust officials unhappy with EPO
test
Australian Olympic officials have attacked the new test for
the endurance drug EPO, recently approved by the International Olympic
Committee. (IOC).
They are disappointed with the inclusion of a urine
test that only detects the drug if it has been taken within 72 hours.
In
a first for the Games, Australian scientists developed a blood test that tests
if an athlete took EPO up to a month ago.
The IOC has combined that test
with a French process testing urine that only detects EPO taken three days
ago.
On tonight's Four Corners program, Sydney Games committee doping
official Dr Peter Larkin says the fact an athlete needs to test positive to
both, compromises the work done by Australian scientists.
"It's going to
be totally...ineffective," he said.
"I mean basically you'd have to be
the silliest athlete in the world to get caught on these tests in the 72-hour
period."
The effects of EPO usually last weeks after the drug is
administered.
Title:
It seems the IOC has attempted to pull a huge image
boosing stunt by approving the limited new EPO test.
Australian ABC show Four Corners tonight has
outlined that there were two tests developed by Australian researchers,
a test that would detect athletes while on
the substance the "on test" and a more reliable scientifically "off test".
The "off test:" was able to detect the effects of EPO administration for weeks
after its use had been stopped.
The "off test" would have sealed the use of EPO in
the past and detected large numbers of cheats from many countries in the Sydney
Games. The TV show indicated that the IOC meeting seemed very eager and ready to
knock out both EPO tests but must have seen that by approving the inferior test
they would be able to look like they were doing something. This type of thing is
really sad for our sport and would make the researchers work and any money spent
on the current test questionable. The apparent window of detection is
pathetic. EPO use peak effectiveness is 4-6weeks after use and the
approved IOC test has a window of maximum 3days since use. Anyone that is caught
has really poor medical and scientific support (and most likely no sponsorship
dollars)
So far the best success these games have had is
with Australian Customs maybe EPO and HGH sniffer dogs could be used on the
athletes!!!!
EPO causes huge boosts to Aerobic performance. eg
8-12s over 1500m in Womens races
GH helps athletes recover and prevents injury.
Boosting the levels of work tolerance and freshness.
Both substances many Authorities will tell you CAN
be used safely if implemented with smart Medical
support.
Olympic Sport is a billion dollar business making
money for sponsors and advertisers eg Nike, Adidas and the likes of NBC.
Ofcourse there is money being injected into Drug use in countries other than
China!!
In the light of all of this, It is incredible that
a small group of Aussie Scientists had to fund an EPO project and got it right
and still lost. The IOC should have funded research like this to the tune of
many millions Worldwide and got it right.
Folks this is the last Big Olympic Games , so enjoy
it. This show is all over!
The only fix is a new administration and huge
expenditure on drug detection directly by the IOC funded by Sponsorship dollars
and independently assed by who knows the United Nations!!
regards
Steve Bennett
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
- t-and-f: Re: [OZTRACK] IOC approved EPO Test scandal Steve Bennett
- t-and-f: Re: [OZTRACK] IOC approved EPO Test scandal Andre Sammartino
