Fight Against Doping -- IOC Official Testifies in Greece, French No-Show in Trial, VANOC Plans 2,400 Tests

Patrick Schamasch said his testimony will help the investigation into Greek doping. (ATR)IOC Testifies in Greek Doping Case

IOC Medical Director Patrick Schamasch appeared in front of a Greek investigation into the rash of doping cases plaguing the country’s sporting culture.

Schamasch, argued the IOC’s case on Tuesday to Athens prosecutor Costas Simitzoglou. Simitzoglou is spearheading the investigation into Greek doping.

More than two dozen Greek sportsmen and women failed drug tests in the last year. Immediately prior to the Beijing Games, 15 athletes tested positive for the steroid methyltrienolone, including 2004 gold medalist in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, Fani Halkia. She is expected to testify later this week.

Following this news, the IOC filed a lawsuit against Halkia’s coach, demanding he be charged with breaking Greek laws regarding obtaining and distributing drugs.

Schamasch said after his testimony, "The Greek authorities are doing very well and I'm sure that will help, you know, [find] the truth."

He said his testimony “will help” the investigation but wouldn’t say any more due to the ongoing and legal nature of the case.

Greek Olympic officials said the doping cases are part of an organized effort.

A lawyer for one of the implicated athletes said, "There are some people who have recently presented themselves as ardent supporters of the anti-doping campaign. These are the same people who staked their social and economic survival on the successes of athletes, many of whom were later found doped. I believe this substance was brought to Greece by one person — the same person who has been bringing it to Greece for years."

He did not elaborate.

VANOC Plans Thousands of Drug Tests

Organizers of the Vancouver Olympics announced on Friday they plan to carry out 2,400 drug tests during the Games. The number is double the amount of tests carried out at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. VANOC's chief medical officer Jack Taunton said the top five finishers in every sport would have blood and urine tested.

French No-Show in Thorpe Case

Ian Thorpe’s case against French sports daily L’Equipe was delayed after the newspaper failed to attend a court hearing in Sydney on Monday. The New South Wales Superior Court Registrar postponed the case until Dec. 15. Thorpe is suing L'Equipe, its publisher and journalist Damien Ressiot, over a 2006 article that claimed the five-time Olympic gold medalist used performance-enhancing drugs. Thorpe then presented medical data to Australian anti-doping authorities who said he committed no crime.

Armstrong Appeals to UCI for Cycling Return

Lance Armstrong is asking the International Cycling Union to waive a rule about retired cyclists returning to the sport in order to return to cycling in January. UCI rules say retired cyclists must be registered with their country’s anti-doping agency for six months before returning to competition. Armstrong registered with USADA on August 1. Lance Armstrong hopes the UCI will allow him to compete in January. (Getty Images)"We're not asking for any exception, but they don't always apply this rule," said Armstrong, citing a 2007 case involving an Italian rider. "This rule was not applied to that. It's a tricky situation. You're talking about a few days overlap. He added, "USADA knows that I am sitting here right now. I am constantly willing to be available for tests. If they come once, if they come a 100 times, great."

Briefs

Hong Kong now has an independent anti-doping organization with the establishment of the Hong Kong Anti-Doping Committee. The secretary general of the Hong Kong NOC is among the seven members of the committee. It will oversee drug testing and educational programs. The HKADC aims for full operation and official status as a national anti-doping organization in its second year of operation.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority announced that it conducted 6,637 urine and blood tests on 3,820 athletes across 73 sports last year. ASADA chair Richard Ings said they strengthened its anti-doping program in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics. “More than ever before, ASADA is bringing together every element at its disposal to protect the integrity of Australian sport.”

Beijing bronze medalist in team show jumping Tony Andre Hansen of Norway met with International Equestrian Federation officials to explain why his horse failed a drug test, Tony Andre Hansen and his questionable horse Camiro in Hong Kong. (Getty Images)and to persuade FEI to let his team keep their medals. Hansen’s horse Camiro tested positive for capsaicin. His teammates are not under suspicion of doping but they would be stripped of their title if Hansen’s case is not successful. Switzerland would leap into third of the Norwegian team is disqualified.

The U.S. dressage team loses its fourth place record in the Beijing Olympics due to a positive drug test confirmed in the horse Mythilus, but eludes a competition ban. The International Equestrian Federation confirms that the horse's A and B samples indicate the presence of anti-inflammatory drug Felbinac, but also finds that the team and its coaches and personnel acted responsibly and did not knowingly administer the drug. For that reason, the team loses their Olympic place but only face a one-month suspension from competition.

Kenyan 400-meter champion sprinter Elizabeth Muthuka was banned for two years from competition after she tested positive for nandrolone. Athletics Kenya Secretary-General David Okeyo said Wednesday that Muthuka returned a positive test in July. Okeyo claims Muthuka and the other Kenyan athletes who tested positive for the drugs did so accidentally adding "ignorance is no defense."

Written by Ed Hula III

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