The Singapore Forum

It's a another C&P I know. But I found the article interesting for both the science part, and the human part of how people tell big lies and what it takes to catch them out. As a follow on article as well, It was of interest too because it's pretty clear why the whole Saunier Duval team pulled out now - bit of bollox really about supporting the guy.

Ricco busted at Tour with help of planted molecule: Fahey
July 23, 2008 - 10:32AM

Italian cyclist Ricardo Ricco was caught for blood doping with the help of a molecule placed in the banned drug during its manufacture, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says.

Ricardo, 24, won two stages of this year's Tour de France before being kicked out before the start of stage 12 last week.

His positive test for the banned blood booster erythropoietin (EPO) was confirmed by the French national anti-doping agency.

It has been reported Ricco believed there was no test for the red-cell booster he was using called CERA (Continuous Erythropietin Receptor Activator).

But WADA president John Fahey says when developing the drug Roche Pharmaceuticals placed a molecule in it to help authorities detect illegal use.

"I can't tell you the details of how he was detected," Mr Fahey told ABC Radio.

"(But) I can indicate the particular substance is called CERA ... which is a perfectly legitimate substance to deal with anemia.

"In the development of that particular substance close cooperation occurred between WADA and the pharmaceutical company Roche Pharmaceuticals so that there was a molecule placed in the substance well in advance that was always going to be able to be detected once a test was undertaken."

Working with drug companies was the way forward in the fight against drug cheats in all sports, Mr Fahey said.

"There's more and more of this occurring.

"The more cooperation the scientists can have with the drug companies in the detection of performance-enhancing drugs the greater the likelihood is they will be detected when tests are undertaken."

Three riders have been ejected from this year's Tour for doping: Spanish riders Moises Duenas Nevado and Manuel Beltran and Ricco of Italy.

Reports emerged overnight that Ricco tried to flee anti-doping officials after the fourth stage.

Pierre Bordry, the head of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) that tested Ricco, explained how the Saunier Duval team leader avoided an anti-doping chaperone after the time trial on July 8.

"When he knew he was going to be tested, he went off, and it is the escort who caught him up," Bordry said today.

"He found himself blocked off. There was a traffic jam of cars and he could not get through the cars."

Bordry said AFLD staff demanded an apology from Ricco.

"We asked him to apologise to the agency and the staff, which he did along with his team director," Bordry said.

"We told him that, because of his behaviour, we were now going to test him after each stage. He put a target on himself."

After Ricco's positive test, Saunier Duval quit the race.

AAP

source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/tourdefrance ... 96759.html

Would think they would do one of two things: put a non-radioactive isotopically-labelled compound into the drug in ~1%. Examples could include swapping some deuterium for hydrogen. You then measure the levels of the drug against the isotopically labelled. If you hit a 1% level of isotopically labelled compound, then you know it's come from the drug. The two compounds will behave identically in the detection system as well as in the body when undergoing metabolism.

Second method is to do something similar with a different compound that has similar structure, though maybe has a decreased metabolism rate. If you can detect the second compound then you're sorted (and the drug taker is caught).

Now they know there's a second compound in the pill/injection of the drug, then people can find out what it is. It's possible, with the right equipment, to isolate out compounds at 0.1% from 1g of drug and have enough for identification.

Couldn't have put it better myself

Seems like a good idea

non-radioactive isotopically labelled

That's got to be adjective of the century.

There are all sorts of labels you could use. But it will only work for commercial drugs of course, the old chemistry set in the backroom type will still have to be detected the old fashioned way.

It's no probelm to keep ahead of the testing. Might as well let them take whatever they want.

Artificial means of enhancing performance goes way back. Thomas Hicks won the Olympic marathon in 1904 by injecting strychnine and brandy at intervals during the race. The yuckiest thou has to be “Blood boosting” which is removal and subsequent re-infusion of the athletes blood in order to increase the level of oxygen carrying hemoglobin.
A cheat is a cheat is a cheat….can’t be satisfying

And what about employing physiologists, heart monitors, computers, treadmills, modern training techniques etc. These things are hardly natural either, nor are they available to athletes across the world. I'd call that cheating too.

Burbage wrote:And what about employing physiologists, heart monitors, computers, treadmills, modern training techniques etc. These things are hardly natural either, nor are they available to athletes across the world. I'd call that cheating too.

Hear, hear!! Train? Only cads and foreigners train, what?

Speaking of catching cheaters at the Olympics......I saw an article somewhere this morning about 'sex testing' at the Beijing Olymipics --- you know, to make sure the women really are women and not men competing as women

Here it is:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

I thought they had that in Sydney and Athens as well.

They did, they've had it for ages, ever since several hirsute East German female weight lifters started appearing.

Of course, this is to preserve the sexism that is inherent in the games.

Go on then Burb, I've bitten. What inherent sexism is there in the Olympic Games?

I would have thought it was obvious.

Obvious to you, maybe. Please share with the rest of us that are less informed.

baloo wrote:I thought they had that in Sydney and Athens as well.

Guess I missed that little tidbit back then

Which sports are still men only? Boxing? Weightlifting?

They have womens Weightlifting.

I think greco roman wrestling is men only.

Synchronised swimming is womens only

baloo wrote:Synchronised swimming is womens only

What about the thing where the women walk a 10cm plank? Do the men do that as well or is it too dangerous for them in case they slip and fall?