2012 Olympic Cheaters Put On Notice
September 13, 2011 by UPI - United Press International, Inc.
LONDON, Sept. 12 (UPI) — The British scientist in charge of keeping drug-based cheating out of the 2012 London Olympics says the games will be the toughest ever on cheaters.
David Cowan of King’s College London said a new test to catch blood dopers could be deployed for the first time and there would also be a new test for human growth hormone, the BBC reported Monday.
A laboratory would carry out an estimated 6,000 tests at the games, he said.
Cowan hinted that for the first time a test might be available to detect autologous doping, in which athletes store and then transfuse their own blood to increase the number of red blood cells — and provide a substantial boost to endurance by allowing an athlete’s bloodstream to carry more oxygen.
“I would never guarantee what we can deliver by a particular time, that’s the nature of research, we’re working very quickly on this, the progress is very exciting,” he said.
“I would put it the other way round; if you’re an athlete be careful — we may have a test in time,” he said.
Cowan made his remarks at the British Science Festival in Bradford.
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