Countdown to the Olympics 126 days (9)

Anti-doping is a menace

By Annesley Ferrreira

Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic Gold Medalist, who has been outspoken on the issue of drugs in sports says, "where you begin and end with solving the problem is a completely independent agency with direct access to the media."

According to IOC, the plan calls for a non-profit agency governed by a board of directors consisting of governmental and international sport officials - including at least one IOC member. The IOC has pledged US$25 million to fund the agency's first year. The agency is to perform unannounced drug tests and contribute funds to research and would not interfere with the established systems of drug testing.

Take a typical trip through a drug testing laboratory. "An athelete wins a medal in a competition and is drug-tested. Or an athlete is asked to give a sample at his/her home. Either way, a drug-testing official is present and certifies that the urine sample - divided into two bottles - came from the athlete. The athlete watches the official seal both bottles, which are coded with a number rather than a name. The samples are bagged, boxed with other coded samples, and sent to the lab. "

1. A box containing pairs of samples at a lab "anywhere."

2. A chemist at lab begins a chain of custody, in which each person who handles the samples must sign them in and out of his/her possession. This ensures that someone is responsible for them at all times, and that, that person can later be tracked down if the testing process is challenged.

3. The chemist takes the box of new samples to a locked room, opens the box, checks the condition of the packaging of each sample and notes any irregularities in the paperwork.

He/she makes sure there is an A and B sample for each number, because the number is the only way the lab can identify the sample. No names are attached, so no one at the lab knows which athletes the samples came from. The chemists puts B samples, unopened, into a locked cold room. Using an instrument called a pipette, the chemist puts urine from each A sample into different test tubes, then takes one tube from each sample and tests the urine into two ways. A Retractometer makes sure the urine isn't too diluted to be useful and pH strips make sure the urine is not too old.

4. The remaining tubes then go to the chemistry process, where another chemist cleans the urine, extracting all but the substances needed for the tests. After this process, which takes about four hours for six samples, the tubes appear to be empty, but are not. Each goes in a dessicator, or drying machine, for an hour so that all moisture is gone before the next phase.

5. Next another chemist adds a few drops of a volatile liquid, trimethysilyt, to prepare the samples for the final phase of the test. This takes half an hour.

6. A fourth chemist injects the liquid into a gas chromatograph, which turns the sample into vapor. The molecules travel through a tiny, coiled tube in the machine at different speeds depending on their weight and makeup. Now the final steps begin.

7. The vapor is shot from the chromatograph into a mass spectometer, the machine that will identify and measure what was in the urine. An electron spectrometer identifies the pieces. Each sample's trip through the mass spectrometer takes about 20 minutes

8. All that is left is reading the data, which takes a certifying scientist about 15 minutes per sample. If the sample tests negative, the process is finished and the B sample is discarded. If any part of the test comes up positive, a new test is scheduled on the A sample and the process starts over.

9. After the second round of tests on the A sample, another scientist looks over the data. If the sample is again positive, a report is faxed or mailed to the appropriate sports governing body. The B sample is then put in a locked freezer and the athlete or his/her representative is invited to the lab to inspect the opening and testing of the B sample.

[Source: Courtesy, USOC, IOC & Washington Post]
Testing At The Olympics Since 1988 Seoul Games

Year/Site       Tests     Athletes         Sport                          Drug

Seoul/1988     1,598           5          Weightlifting                Furosemide[2]
                                                                                      Stanozolol [2]
                                                                                      pemoline
                                       2          Moder penthalon          caffiene,
                                                                                      propanolol
                                       1          Wrestling                     Furosemide
                                       1          Judo                            Furosemide
                                       1         Track & Field               Stanozolol

Three gold medalists and a bronze medalist were stripped of their medals. Ben Johnson of Canada, T&F, Mitko Grubler and Angel Guenchev of Bulgaria, weightlifting, Kerriyh Brown of Great Britian, Judo (Bronze). In association with C.Vijitha Fernando, Duncan White Sports Foundation. Cont. Next week.

Believe in yourself-Shaun Pollock 

By Bernie Wijesekera 

As captain it will be his first stint away from home. He takes over the mantle from Hansie Cronje - the dedicated skipper, who is alleged to be involved in a betting scandal. 

He hails from a cricketing stock. His father Peter gangling fast bowler and uncle Graeme - a left-handed batsman - both played for South Africa with distinction. They were two exciting cricketers during their time , but ironically were barred from playing due to the Apartheid policy that prevailed in the country. 

Born on July 16, 1973, Shaun, has got all the encouragement and support from his parents. His father got him interested in cricket and has helped him, ever since. 

No doubt, he says that his parents have been a great influence. It was a nervous start for him when he made his debut against England at the age of 22 and 123 days in 1995, at the Centurian Park. Since then he has not looked back - playing a decisive role for South Africa to be in the forefront. Shaun, too like Jaunty Rhodes, believes in faith, which has taught him the realities in life. By example the duo are a great influence to the team-mates on and off the field. Rhodes, who scored a match-saving Test 100 against Sri Lanka at Moratuwa in the last series here, which could be rated as one of the great knocks made by a South African batsman when the team was facing defeat whilst batting with No. 10 Clive Eksteen. 

Shaun, has not forgotten the ones, who had a great influence on him. Besides his father, the late West Indian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall, Graham Ford and his brother Gavin. It was Marshall, who really made him to bowl that deceptive delivery that earned him wickets. Marshall, also had influence on Wasim Akram, too. 

He came into limelight in the international scene with his exploits on the field to help South Africa go from strength to strength. He works hard with his team-mates to maintain the tempo, thereby to make South Africa the top cricketing nation in the Tests and in the overs game. In the process has drawn much attention from the media and his fans. He has been able to overcome it by being polite and patient. Humility is his code word. 

Some of our young sportsmen will be afforded the opportunity of watching the South African team in action with Pollock leading from the front. 

Shaun, never believes in making excuses or question authorities for setbacks. 

He says if you want to be remembered as a cricketer then you should be the ones who played hard and gave of their best, whilst playing in the correct spirit, for the fans to enjoy . 

His greatest disappointment was when South Africa lost the World Cup semi-final to Australia, last year. His greatest achievement at national level - beating Pakistan in the Test series in Pakistan and winning the quadrangular series also played in Pakistan. 

Pollock a fiery paceman is determined and maintains a high standard of sportsmanship even when the chips are down. This is the secret of his achievements in life besides taking wickets and making runs. 

He always strives to be friendly. His message to present day youngsters - "Believe in yourself even when things go against your way."

The favourite book he loves to read ' Long walk to Freedom'. Surely Nelson Mandela, the legendary South African leader may have had a great influence on him and others, who had the wisdom to study the realities in life. In the present South African team there are no whites and blacks. All bind hands together to achieve their common goal. 

A promising young coloured player, Makhaya Ntini is one of them.

Shaun's highest Test score was made against Sri Lanka - 92 at Newlands. His best bowling effort 7 for 87 against Australia at Adelaide (both in Tests).

Licences for national level cyclists

Applications and relevant details have already been sent to all affiliated member bodies and all qualified commissaires of the Federation. 

Perfected applications with two stamp size photograph along with the licence fee of Rs. 250/- should be forwarded to the General Secretary of the CFLS on or before May 31. 

After May 31 only valid licence holders will be considered for ranking, to the National Pool, training and selecting teams for foreign competitions and commissaires to officiate at races. 

But cyclists will be permitted to take part in competitions by paying an additional entry fee and the grace period too will end on August 31 this year. 

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