5 positives from Athens to be revealed after the Games

the_real_lamp

5 athletes who tested positive at Olympics in Athens are to revealed after the London Olympics. All field athletes, some medalists. Medalists to be stripped. Good to see.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/five-athens-drug-cheats-to-be-revealed-8008017.html

Two Points:

Samples are kept for 8 years, could this not be extended?

I had to laugh at the point in the article that Los Angeles '84 was the second 'dirtiest' games of all time. The tester from Los Angeles on the 'The Race That Shocked the World'(BBC) documentary had a lot different to say

titan18

Really, don't see why they wouldn't just release the names now, especially if any of them are still competing

the_real_lamp

titan18 wrote: »

Really, don't see why they wouldn't just release the names now, especially if any of them are still competing

I assume none of them are still competing. Tsikhon (BLR) the hammer was sent home before the games on account of a retested 2004 sample. From that I take that those still competing were told and publicised.

robinph

titan18 wrote: »

Really, don't see why they wouldn't just release the names now, especially if any of them are still competing

As long as none of them are in London then it's best to leave releasing the details until afterwards or you distract the media from talking about the current games.

Father Damo

Sorry to sound a bit new, saw this on the main page

I know sod all about athletics, but why this delay? Are winners samples re tested reguarly and these guys have been caught using enhancers that were not widely known and detectable 8 years ago?

ecoli

Father Damo wrote: »

Sorry to sound a bit new, saw this on the main page

I know sod all about athletics, but why this delay? Are winners samples re tested reguarly and these guys have been caught using enhancers that were not widely known and detectable 8 years ago?

Not just the winners but samples are frozen and allowed to be retested when new tests become available. This is to give the testers a chance to catch up with new drugs being developed

Truman Burbank

the_real_lamp wrote: »

5 athletes who tested positive at Olympics in Athens are to revealed after the London Olympics. All field athletes, some medalists. Medalists to be stripped. Good to see.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/news/five-athens-drug-cheats-to-be-revealed-8008017.html

Two Points:

Samples are kept for 8 years, could this not be extended?

I had to laugh at the point in the article that Los Angeles '84 was the second 'dirtiest' games of all time. The tester from Los Angeles on the 'The Race That Shocked the World'(BBC) documentary had a lot different to say

There should be no time limit. If you stand on the biggest stage in the world, you should be prepared to fall on it too. Were only 100/3,600 samples retested? Medallists then some. Re the documentary on LA, I could not understand, at the end, when the scientist (Dr Exum?) said there were so many positives on retesting years later, that it was left as is.

Corkbah

Truman Burbank wrote: »

There should be no time limit. If you stand on the biggest stage in the world, you should be prepared to fall on it too. Were only 100/3,600 samples retested? Medallists then some. Re the documentary on LA, I could not understand, at the end, when the scientist (Dr Exum?) said there were so many positives on retesting years later, that it was left as is.

from the article

"The World Anti-Doping Code makes it possible to open a disciplinary proceeding within eight years from the date a violation occurred. We believe that retrospective testing serves as a strong deterrent."

ecoli

Given the shelf life of an athlete is usually 10-15 years tops testing samples before that time is not cost effective for WADA as there is no point banning someone who is already retired.

The focus is on making sure that the focus there money on people still competing to act as a detterent as competing athletes have alot more to lose

Truman Burbank

ecoli wrote: »

Given the shelf life of an athlete is usually 10-15 years tops testing samples before that time is not cost effective for WADA as there is no point banning someone who is already retired.

The focus is on making sure that the focus there money on people still competing to act as a detterent as competing athletes have alot more to lose

I understand that! And that finances are not limitless, it just 'erks' me that that there are known unpublished positive samples for athletes who now have a lifetime of kudos and a number who are motivational speakers, pundits, role models. . . . that's a longer shelf life.

ecoli

Truman Burbank wrote: »

I understand that! And that finances are not limitless, it just 'erks' me that that there are known unpublished positive samples for athletes who now have a lifetime of kudos and a number who are motivational speakers, pundits, role models. . . . that's a longer shelf life.

Oh I completely agree especially with the comments made on that documentary that the tests were already carried out but the results weren't published. My point was more to the point why only go back 8 years in terms of retesting by WADA