IAAF Global Athletics (© IAAF)
Monte CarloAt the time of the press release issued by USADA last Thursday, the IAAF was not in a position, for reasons of confidentiality, to give any detailed comment on its involvement in the investigation into the use of the new designer steroid, THG. Developments in the last 24 hours, however, now call for some clarification of the IAAF’s role in this matter.
In late July of this year, IAAF officials were contacted by USADA concerning information from an anonymous source that a number of US and international athletes were taking an undetectable designer steroid. This prompted an immediate response. Firstly, the IAAF sought to collect out-of-competition samples from all the international athletes identified by the source and sent the samples to the IOC-accredited UCLA laboratory in Los Angeles for testing for THG. The IAAF also proceeded to send to UCLA its routine out-of-competition samples that were collected in August prior to the World Championships. Finally, it made arrangements with the IOC-accredited laboratory in Paris to have all samples collected at the World Championships preserved pending the outcome of the USADA investigation.
“USADA must take enormous credit for its role in the investigation into THG” commented IAAF President, Lamine Diack, earlier today. “Its dedication and expertise, together with that of the UCLA laboratory, have been fundamental to this investigation’s success. We are grateful that USADA shared the information with us at the early stage it did and for the opportunity to work closely with them since late July in casting the net as widely as possible to catch those involved. It is also pleasing to report the excellent co-operation that we have had from both the French Government and the Paris laboratory concerning the further testing of the World Championships samples. I believe that the current investigation, involving a national anti-doping agency, laboratories, international federation and Governments, all working together with a common aim, exemplifies the kind of international co-operation that is required if we are to beat the cheaters and protect the integrity of our sport.”
The out-of-competition samples collected by the IAAF prior to the World Championships resulted in one positive finding for THG, which was reported to the IAAF by the UCLA laboratory on 23 September. The B sample analysis in the case is still to be concluded.
The IAAF now intends to move as quickly as it can to commence the further testing of the samples held in Paris.
