Bummer that US skiers are in first "suspensions" sweep...

Pound seems to have backed off a bit in a later statement by saying
that after the Games there will be a commission of hematologists to
examine whether this is a health issue or doping.

Gene

Gene Goldenfeld wrote:

Is Pound the pig he usually seems to be or onto something? WADA also
just appealed the reduction of Justyna Kowalczyk's (?) penalty
from two yrs to one by the sports court, even tho the drugging was
shown to be the doing of someone else or inadvertant or something, in
an anti-inflammatory she was given.

Gene


Skiers must have taken drugs: WADA

By Karolos Grohmann

TURIN (Reuters) - Several cross-country skiers who registered high
hemoglobin levels days before the Turin Winter Games opened must have
taken banned substances, World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound
said on Thursday.

"Frankly, we think we are dealing with doping," Pound, also an
International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, told Reuters.

"It is too much of a coincidence to have 12 athletes with hugely high
Hb (hemoglobin) levels just before the Games."

The IOC is responsible for drugs testing during the Games and WADA's
role is to operate as an independent observer monitoring doping
procedures from notification to sample collection and analysis.

A total of 12 athletes, all cross-country skiers, registered high Hb
values and were suspended by the International Skiing Federation for
five days due to health concerns.

The FIS said high altitude training was the most likely cause for the
rise in the Hb level.

The skiers were suspended pending re-testing before their
competitions. Several of them had reduced levels after re-testing and
were allowed to compete again.

Pound, a practising lawyer in his native Canada, said the FIS was
brushing the problem aside by calling it a health issue.

"I think we are going to have another look (after the Games). It is
easier to deal with it as a health problem than doping problem."

"They (FIS) might be afraid that they are not able to prove that they
were drugged."

FIS secretary general Sarah Lewis reaffirmed their position that the
blood levels were related to altitude.

We have an extremely close relationship with WADA, they are not
questioning our work," Lewis said.

"In bike racing, you get caught for doping and your welcomed back when
your
suspension is over"

Which could be 2 years, plus an additional 2 while you race for the
local Dunkin' Donuts until you can hook up with a ProTour team again.