Four years ago in Salt Lake, the drug busters came up with a secret test for the blood booster Darbepoetin and caught out two cross-country skiers, Johann Muelegg of Spain and Larissa Lazutina of Russia. But if Repoxygen is used in Turin, the medics have got a headache. America's Anti-doping Agency senior managing director, Larry Bowers, has already called it a "real threat", while German biochemist Werner Franke said this week: "It is worse than in the GDR [former East Germany] and more brutal than Balco."The springboard for these dire pronouncements was an email German police found on the computer belonging to former east German coach to Katrin Krabbe, Thomas Springstein, who is on trial at the moment for doping under-age female athletes. The message complained how "difficult it is to get hold of Repoxygen. Please give me new instructions so that I can get hold of the product for Christmas".
It was an historic moment: the moment that email was presented in open court was the exact moment when the latest stage of doping was officially confirmed. The era of genetic doping has arrived.
I've never understood the reasoning of sports punditry who advocate opening wide the doors to atheletes to use whatever performance enhancing drugs they wish. While some of the regulations sound like overkill (caffeine?) what seems to be forgotten is the age at which elite atheletes begin training for Olympic careers.
It's one thing to argue that a 24 year old NFL player has the right to fill his veins with Big Jim's Extract of Bull Testicle - it's quite another to give the chemical green light to a coach entrusted with the training of 11 year old gymnasts.
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How much do you suppose the drug-testing will cost for thw 2010 Winter Olympics.
Reason #98 for cancelling the 2010 Olympics before they cost us too much hard-earned dough.
Posted by: Mike at February 6, 2006 7:40 AMIf someone is caught administering untested viral genetic manipulators to minors, I would hope being banned from the Olympics quickly becomes the least of their concerns.
Posted by: Sean E at February 6, 2006 9:50 AMTime is on the side of the testers. Our ability to measure and test various for substances is increasing expotentially at the moment thanks to advances in nanotechnology. I suspect that in the next 5-10 years we'll have quick and easy testing technologies that will trump evasion techniques. Outside of that I can't see a way to stop sports doping without a worldwide fundemental change in attitude towards sport which I don't see happening.
Posted by: Jose at February 6, 2006 10:11 AM1 April, 2060 For Immediate Release
Following his unprecedented fourth Olympic Pentathlon Gold Medal, representatives for Igor Phillips have announced his retirement from sport and the formation of "Igor Phillips, LLP, a company registered in the Channel Islands.
In addition to his many sports victories Mr. Phillips is best remembered for taking on and defeating the anti sports medicine establishment in the process becoming the symbol of genetic manipulation for enhanced physical performance.
Members of the investment consortium forming the partnership announced that starting in June 2060, Mr. Phillips, 67, will be standing at stud on his palatial Cheshire Farms. Lucky recipients of his attentions will be selected by means of a Dutch Auction. A calender and fee schedule for remote breeding has not yet been announced.
The consortium also wishes to announce that rumors of Mr. Phillips intractability are unfounded and legal remedies will be sought against those spreading these vicious lies.
Posted by: Hungry Valley at February 6, 2006 3:19 PMCoach Thomas Springstein??? He was born to run.
Posted by: CJ at February 7, 2006 1:44 AM