From what i have heard, from several credible sources, someone on the us women's team tested positive. As of now only the persons family, roommate, and usa swimming know, but im sure it will begin to leak out. Nothing matters though until we get results of the B test.. which could be a few days or even weeks. Not sure when the test was taken, but probably trials. I will try to post more information when I get it, but if anyone could confirm or post what they know, im sure it would be appreciated
Apologies in advance if this has already been posted.
This is becoming a big story, lots of outlets picking it up.
German TV report warns of gene doping in China
11 hours ago
FRANKFURT, Germany — A German television report on the availability of gene doping in China has stunned anti-doping experts shortly before the Beijing Olympics.
In a documentary by ARD television, a Chinese doctor offers stem-cell therapy to a reporter posing as an American swimming coach.
The report, filmed with a concealed camera, shows the doctor with his face blurred speaking in Chinese and offering the treatment in return for US$24,000, according to a translation provided by the ARD television.
The documentary broadcast Monday did not offer evidence that the hospital had provided gene doping to other athletes, but anti-doping officials were appalled that the treatment was so readily available.
"I could not have imagined it in such a provable form," Mario Thevis, chief of the German centre of preventive doping research in Cologne.
Another Cologne expert on gene doping, Patrick Diel, said he was "stunned to see it."
"It goes beyond my worst expectations," Diel said.
In the documentary, the reporter posing as an American swimming coach meets with the head of the gene therapy department of a Chinese hospital. It did not name the doctor, or the hospital.
The fictitious coach says he is seeking stem-cell treatment for one of his swimmers.
"Yes. We have no experience with athletes here, but the treatment is safe and we can help you," the doctor replies. "It strengthens lung function and stem cells go into the bloodstream and reach the organs. It takes two weeks. I recommend four intravenous injections ... 40 million stem cells or double that, the more the better. We also use human growth hormones, but you have to be careful because they are on the doping list."
The program also showed how pharmaceutical companies in China were ready to sell steroids and the blood-booster EPO.
Muppet, are you sure they cannot replace her with members of the team? I know for gymnastics (different sport, but I'd imagine the same rules) they had to name their team and alternates by the 21st but can sub in an alternate up to 24 hours in advance. I would think that nearly 3 weeks out would be a bit early to assume no one would get injured or sick and not allow for a substitution. They don't name the relay teams until the last minute.
It has been brought to my attention that perhaps my statement needs a qualification - that yes, they cannot substitute someone NEW for her spots on the team roster. As for taking someone else already on the roster and filling spots, I have no idea.
Chinese swimmer Ouyang was also found to have failed a drug test, clenbuterol, in out-of-competition testing in May/June. He was headed for Olympics. He and his coach received lifetime bans.
An older BBC News article:
news.bbc.co.uk/.../7477072.stm
Wier and Kirk would be heading to Peking if the results had been confirmed last week. So WHY does the US schedule trials without enough time to do the drug testing? That is really POOR planning. Of course there are so many heads in the sand over in Colorado I am sure the idea that you would need to consider this in the timing of the trials is news.
Don't forget about Lara Jackson in the 50.
I don't know, do you really think we need to start scheduling Trials around drug testing? I really don't like that idea.
That NBC article keeps changing and now it says that Jessica's lawyer said that she was tested 3 times throughout Trials. The first, she was negative... the second (both A and B samples) were positive... and the third was negative.
Why would anyone in their right mind cheat if the chance of getting caught was great?
I guess the more immediate desire to win trumps the possibility, more remote in time, that they may get caught and pitchforked. It appears they somehow seem to suppress or deny the consequences of getting caught -- as if it existed in some alternate fantasy world. Odd to me, but not that different than other things, e.g., cheating in school, drinking and driving, etc. Maybe the desire to win/garner fame simply exceeds the desire to do what is right in the moral (not competitive sports) universe? Or perhaps there are just too many bailouts or rationalizations for bad behavior?
Liver failure is just not all that immediate and pressing to 21 year olds, Stud ... They live in the present and suspend reality.
I just did a quick googls on Clenbuterol half life and it came back with 36-39 hours. I assume that is the window in which you can test positive. Can someone verify? That would explain the negative,positive then negative tests.
Half-life is the time it takes for something to decay to half its original level. So, no, not exactly. It would depend on the initial dose taken and the dectection threshold of the drug.
What if she was sabotaged?
what if someone slipped a little something in her water bottle?
Interesting questions…
It could explain why her 4 other tests this year all came back negative (or a least they were not reported as positive).
