New Ex-Pro recounts doping practices

[ElChingon]

Not sure why this hasn't made the rounds here but another ex-pro (Italian) recounts his doping practices (video and story in Spanish):

http://www.as.com/ciclismo/articulo/nos-inyectaban-hormonas-fueramos-animales/20101120dasdascic_1/Tes

From an Italian program "Striscia la Notizia".

Basically, he describes the doping methods used during his career as a pro rider. After using EPO, cortisone and testosterone", he stopped riding. "They offered us growth hormones like the ones injected in animals".

The rider had been doping since the beginnings of his career as an amateur. "As an amature you can buy the doping product in the pharmacies". He also stated many of his fellow riders doped unconsciously, "Some cyclist start doping like some who take aspirin for a cold and that makes them increase the doses gradually".

To mask some substances the cyclist took diluted bicarbonate, "I drank it before I arrived at the finish line or before the controls". To avoid the controls the rider also applied a substance which was stored in bags of rice, which he applied to the tip of his penis which altered the results of his urine tests.

-------------------- (that's my translation above) ----------------

the story is also running on Marca.com

http://www.marca.com/2010/11/20/ciclismo/1290257981.html?a=3d32d639f3c6b7a4839ce07d15693446&t=1290326257

 

[DirtyWorks]

Second Language Warning

My Spanish is horrible so I may be way off the mark.

I got the impression that the doping is rampant at the under-23 and below categories.

I'd like to know how good a Pharmacologist/hematologist/??? one has to be to come up with a topical masking agent. I imagine they store the masking agent in rice to keep the chemical very dry.

 

[D-Queued]

My Spanish is horrible so I may be way off the mark.

I got the impression that the doping is rampant at the under-23 and below categories.

I'd like to know how good a Pharmacologist/hematologist/??? one has to be to come up with a topical masking agent. I imagine they store the masking agent in rice to keep the chemical very dry.

It was reported in 2007 that protease, an enzyme utilized in soap powder, diswashing detergent, and contact lens cleaner will destroy all EPO in a sample - synthetic and natural.

And, that about apparently about 17% of samples had no detectable EPO.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17692836

Apparently the technique is to get some on your fingers, and then urinate over your fingers into the collection jar.

Dave.

 

[Oldman]

It was reported in 2007 that protease, an enzyme utilized in soap powder, diswashing detergent, and contact lens cleaner will destroy all EPO in a sample - synthetic and natural.

And, that about apparently about 17% of samples had no detectable EPO.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17692836

Apparently the technique is to get some on your fingers, and then urinate over your fingers into the collection jar.

Dave.

And you'd think the UCI would be suspicious of the lack of any EPO, natural or injected.

 

[Cimacoppi49]

Interesting. Thanks for the link.

 

[Cobblestones]

And you'd think the UCI would be suspicious of the lack of any EPO, natural or injected.

There's no lower limit on EPO, so what can they do, legally?

And before you say 'masking agents are illegal', this kind of manipulation should be reported by the chaperones/minders. If they sign the paperwork which comes with the sample, and say everything was a-ok, then what can you do?

Now, I'm not saying the UCI should just accept this ruse, but at the point where the sample analysis shows no EPO at all, it's already too late.

 

[BotanyBay]

I thought they watched the riders as they urinate. Do they not assign a penalty when the rider puts his finger in the stream?

 

[Beech Mtn]

I thought they watched the riders as they urinate. Do they not assign a penalty when the rider puts his finger in the stream?

According to Willy Voet's book, it depends greatly on who the chaperone is. Some of them are retired cyclists themselves, who look the other way during testing. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Some of them are huge cycling fans, who are just happy to have an autograph and a few minutes meeting a big star. Who cares about the actual test procedures? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Occasionally they would get a serious doctor/chaperone who actually expected the test to take place as intended. Then they had to be more careful.

 

[Altitude]

According to Willy Voet's book, it depends greatly on who the chaperone is. Some of them are retired cyclists themselves, who look the other way during testing. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Some of them are huge cycling fans, who are just happy to have an autograph and a few minutes meeting a big star. Who cares about the actual test procedures? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Occasionally they would get a serious doctor/chaperone who actually expected the test to take place as intended. Then they had to be more careful.

That was back in the 80's. It's different now.

 

[D-Queued]

There's no lower limit on EPO, so what can they do, legally?

And before you say 'masking agents are illegal', this kind of manipulation should be reported by the chaperones/minders. If they sign the paperwork which comes with the sample, and say everything was a-ok, then what can you do?

Now, I'm not saying the UCI should just accept this ruse, but at the point where the sample analysis shows no EPO at all, it's already too late.

There is a general ban against masking agents & techniques. The paper cited

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17692836

discusses counter-measures

CONCLUSIONS: Urine characteristics clearly affect the detectability of an EPO profile. At the same time, addition of anti-proteases prevents the adulteration of urine. These two findings have clear practical implications with regards to the timing of urine collection as well as the entire anti-doping control procedure.

 

[Darryl Webster]

That was back in the 80's. It's different now.

Having been to medical control numerous times that most certainly was the case back in the 80`s, I dont recall a single case were the observer actualy looked closely as I urinated as they should.
Form filling could be very lax..I recall one duplicate given to my had very few details as the carbon copy hadnt worked well.
This obviously isnt an "easy" situation for many people , riders or control.
Training in dealing with the embarrasement and emphasis on strict adherance to protol is required.
One easy salution is CCTV recording oversight.

 

[BotanyBay]

One easy salution is CCTV recording oversight.

People would post Juan Pelota on YouTube with that.

 

[mtb Dad]

One of the reasons for the chaperone is to ensure the rider does not pick up any masking substance before going to anti-doping. And that they wash their hands of any foreign powder before giving the sample, though some soaps could do the same.

Still, there was one story going around that Flo Jo's long finger nails we for puncturing a container of urine held, er, inside. Watching guys pee would be straightforward compared to watching for that...Mirror lined toilet bowls maybe? A new 'No hands' rule? Who holds the cup?

 

[AnythingButKestrel]

One possible procedure to reduce sample tampering:

a) Get a pair of latex surgical gloves
b) Inflate moderately to ensure there are no leaks
c) Rider holds out his/her hands for the chaperone.
d) Doping-control-supplied surgical gloves placed over rider's hands by the chaperone.
e) Continue with correct doping control procedure supervision
f) Retrieve gloves and re-inflate. If gloves don't inflate, rider gets to pee again.
g) Hose up the protocol 3X and you're out

It would cost maybe 25 cents and a minute or two, and would eliminate a big question mark.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

Having been to medical control numerous times that most certainly was the case back in the 80`s, I dont recall a single case were the observer actualy looked closely as I urinated as they should.
Form filling could be very lax..I recall one duplicate given to my had very few details as the carbon copy hadnt worked well.
This obviously isnt an "easy" situation for many people , riders or control.
Training in dealing with the embarrasement and emphasis on strict adherance to protol is required.
One easy salution is CCTV recording oversight.

Numerous times as well. Last in the early nineties.

Same thing, though... As long as I pulled my shorts about my knees, they were happy. Not even looking at the urine going into the jar...

I was too young and naive to realize what might be going on, but I remember thinking "this is pretty easy". It seemed to me if someone wanted to circumvent testing, they probably could.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

One possible procedure to reduce sample tampering:

a) Get a pair of latex surgical gloves
b) Inflate moderately to ensure there are no leaks
c) Rider holds out his/her hands for the chaperone.
d) Doping-control-supplied surgical gloves placed over rider's hands by the chaperone.
e) Continue with correct doping control procedure supervision
f) Retrieve gloves and re-inflate. If gloves don't inflate, rider gets to pee again.
g) Hose up the protocol 3X and you're out

It would cost maybe 25 cents and a minute or two, and would eliminate a big question mark.

Those are wonderful suggestions, providing the governing bodies want to end doping...

And it's not that big of a question mark, FloJo's nails weren't keeping her clean. Her federation was.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Those are wonderful suggestions, providing the governing bodies want to end doping...

And it's not that big of a question mark, FloJo's nails weren't keeping her clean. Her federation was.

The fact the federation isn't interested in ending doping, or at least meaningfully constraining doping should be a Clinic sticky. At this point in history it is not controversial.

+1 on FloJo's Federation. Why there was no US Track and Field pogrom fueled by the mainstream press remains a mind-boggling non-event. Track and Field athlete busted! A career fueled by PED's with no positive PED results and federation has nothing to do with it. Oh Really? The story just stops at the athlete. I can't figure out why.

 

[Darryl Webster]

Numerous times as well. Last in the early nineties.

Same thing, though... As long as I pulled my shorts about my knees, they were happy. Not even looking at the urine going into the jar...

I was too young and naive to realize what might be going on, but I remember thinking "this is pretty easy". It seemed to me if someone wanted to circumvent testing, they probably could.

This is how simple it was , the rider has a drinks can with clean urine (for obvious reasons of dehydration it can be very difficult to pee to order and many riders find the need to drink quite a lot before there able to give a sample) and took the can into the toilet cubicle, puts it on the cystern, pulls his shirt up, shorts down( he might even turn round to show theres no tubes) and then just waits for a sutable moment to pour the urine from the drinks can ( long waits are very commen!) The urine from the drinks can is kept warm by holding it and so doesnt arouse suspition.
Not exactly rocket science eh!

 

[BotanyBay]

One possible procedure to reduce sample tampering:

a) Get a pair of latex surgical gloves
b) Inflate moderately to ensure there are no leaks
c) Rider holds out his/her hands for the chaperone.
d) Doping-control-supplied surgical gloves placed over rider's hands by the chaperone.
e) Continue with correct doping control procedure supervision
f) Retrieve gloves and re-inflate. If gloves don't inflate, rider gets to pee again.
g) Hose up the protocol 3X and you're out

It would cost maybe 25 cents and a minute or two, and would eliminate a big question mark.

Excellent ideas. You should send these suggestions to WADA (I'm serious).

The riders should be taken immediately after they cross the line, offered refreshments (water, fruit, etc) and taken to dope control ASAP. They should be wearing their latex gloves the entire time.

Seriously.

 

[BotanyBay]

This is how simple it was , the rider has a drinks can with clean urine (for obvious reasons of dehydration it can be very difficult to pee to order and many riders find the need to drink quite a lot before there able to give a sample) and took the can into the toilet cubicle, puts it on the cystern, pulls his shirt up, shorts down( he might even turn round to show theres no tubes) and then just waits for a sutable moment to pour the urine from the drinks can ( long waits are very commen!) The urine from the drinks can is kept warm by holding it and so doesnt arouse suspition.
Not exactly rocket science eh!

Michael Pollentier was much more interesting with his squeeze-bulb and surgical tubing contraption.

 

[131313]

That was back in the 80's. It's different now.

Really? How many times have you been dope tested??

I've never had anyone look directly at me while peeing. Never.

 

[BotanyBay]

Really? How many times have you been dope tested??

I've never had anyone look directly at me while peeing. Never.

I was never tested (myself), but I remember them explaining the rules to us. They were supposed to watch us drop our pants and observe us urinating and prevent us from contaminating the sample in any way. And this was back in the 1980's.

Of course, I will assume that an old Frenchman back in 1987 would have thought that was entirely homosexual, and would have avoided doing the right thing.

 

[wallymann]

I thought they watched the riders as they urinate. Do they not assign a penalty when the rider puts his finger in the stream?

in NCAA collegiate sports, the athlete drops his drawers and puts his hands above his head while ****ing into a cup held by the person administering the test. the athlete's hands can come nowhere near the cup or his johnson during the test. the tester hopes the athlete's no-hands aiming technique is good!

 

[AussieGoddess]

I agree with the gloves - and rather than using hands - use thistype of funnel.

But as you all say - the federation has to be actually interested in catching them before they will consider anything that might help that.

 

[ElChingon]

Well if they apply the masking agent to the tip prior to going in to the control trailer no amount of glove and hand washing is going to help out. I think the way they're using it, it won't matter much how they are monitored unless the tester wipes it clean or hoses it off prior to sample coming out. Than again these guy (riders) are so on top of things I wouldn't be surprised if they push it up the urethra prior if such measures are taken.

We've all seen the big huddle post stage win with the winner consisting of the team support staff, who knows what they can do if enough get around them.