http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/27...g--summary.html


Hamburg - Five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein of Germany has been banned for two years by the ruling body ISU for blood doping. The ISU said on its website on Friday it found Pechstein guilty of "the prohibited method of blood doping" from evidence gathered through the 37-year-old's blood profile.

FYI. Seems like they're not so worried about going after big fish. Sounds like they have also applied previous (since 99) blood screening tests to their passport. I wonder if that could be done in cycling.

37 years old, 1999... ?

Something subliminal here Lister?

Dave.

Thanks, Lister.

It’s an interesting case because it appears a formalized blood passport was used to sanction an athlete. That is, she did not fail a “classic” test but her blood profiling like the 5 athletes the UCI charged several days ago.

She said, she'll appeal. If so, it will be very significant to see if the charge holds. To my knowledge, so far, all charges based on bio (physio) profiling were overturned on appeal.

I’ll try to gather more information and will share it if it could be shown relevant to the UCI and cycling.

yeah it is ........

Why in the F? would you say this?

german tabloid Bild published her suspicous reticulocytes-values:
http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/mehr-sport/2...ty=Download.jpg

An event I think cycling will be following.

CAS judge expects battle of experts in Pechstein hearing
Europe News
Jul 6, 2009, 12:00 GMT

Hamburg - An appeal by banned five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein will not be decided before autumn in what is expected to be 'a battle of experts,' a judge at the Court of Arbitration for Sport said on Monday.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the judge told the German Press Agency dpa that there was no urgency in the case of blood doping.

Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/eur...0KgMMRe3Y&C

This could be a landmark case. RH is more familiar with the details than I am, but the passport as now used is new, and did not exist as such in 1999. Back then, there was screening for hematocrit and reticulocyte count, resulting in off-scores which could indicate an athlete was under suspicion (as happened with Tyler, not long before he failed the homologous blood test). They could not be used then to suspend an athlete, nor could those data today by themselves be so used. The passport incorporates more parameters and uses formulas to estimate the statistical significance of a deviation of these parameters from a pre-determined baseline.

This case could prove to be every bit as controversial as Floyd's was. If the prosecution is successful, any cyclist who flunks a passport test has reason to be worried. And btw, whatever happened to those 4-7 riders who were supposedly going to be announced before the Tour?



Pechstein will probably argue that the parameters can be affected significantly by a variety of conditions, including certain diseases, maybe certain kinds of training or unusual physiological states, and may try to produce data showing large fluctuations in supposedly normal controls. She might also argue that her physiology is not typical. I'm not sure what "facts" the prosecution can produce, other than studies demonstrating that its statistical methods are valid. They may have data from athletes who were busted for CERA or other forms of EPO that showed passport fluctuations during the period of suspected doping. However, the fact that a known doper had passport violations does not prove the converse, that passport fluctuations indicate doping.

Given her plans include the 2010 Games

Pechstein plans to compete in her sixth Winter Olympics next February in Vancouver, for which she now needs a successful appeal before CAS. She is banned by the ISU from February 9, 2009 to February 9, 2011

I don't necessarily see the need for a rush here either.

Interesting that she is Germany's most medalled winter Olympian.

Dave.

The case becomes more and more interesting. Daamsgard has been contacted by the german newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and asked for his opinion. He thinks the blood values don`t look like that of a doper. It could be a disease. Reticulocytosis.
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/P5p38G/2964844/...strittenen.html
(thanks for the link to the users at cycling4fans-forum)

Thanks. Can you you keep us posted?
L

appeal denied.

http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/3....11.25%20PR.pdf

What is particularly interesting in this case is that the German sport association broke ranks with the international organization, and filed to appeal the decision and support their high profile doper. Even in Germany, support for doping is hard to irradicate.

Good on the interntional organization for pursuing this, and for winning.

Definitely a departure from cycling.

Dave.

Not to point the finger at any one country, but you could have said "especially in Germany doping is hard to irradicate".

t-mobile and their organised doping at a German clinic, Gerolsteiner and their multiple positives including German riders - they are discreetly placing themselves near the head of the pack of doping countries.

Yes, we can definitely argue both sides of this.

The difference in Germany, perhaps, being that T-Mobile doesn't exist anymore. Their biggest cycling hero remains in complete disgrace. The Tour of Germany was cancelled due to the doping scandals, TV won't cover it, etc.

There are some subtle differences between that situation and, say, Italy, Spain, or a large country starting with 'U' known to have a well established doping culture reaching well up to its highest echelons (and we are not talking about Uraguay or Ukraine).

Dave.

canada starts with a "c" dave, not a "u"

Any of the scientists here noticed if the rules used to sanction Pechstein are any different than those that apply in cycling? For example, were her reticulocyte levels a certain number of standard deviations away from normal? And would the reticulocyte levels reported from this years tour de france have passed those same standards?

I have no problem with that.

In fact, you could say that I have a fact or two to support the assertion you appear to be implying.

Dave.

actually i was joking. i haven't really felt like much like joking after a recent bout of radiation burn side effects, but my strength and humor ( if you'd like to call it that ) are returning. i just couldn't resist.

Might have answered my own question. Reading the Pechstein decision http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/3...20PECHSTEIN.pdf, I found a mention in paragraph 61 that ISU has it's own blood testing rules, while WADA does not yet have them.

I got the joke - just letting you know that I was definitely not offended.

Also, sorry to hear abou the side-effects, but very heartened to read your posts.


Cool!

Imagine if the UCI...no, strike that. Some would regard it as baiting.

Dave.

Appeal for leave to skate at Olympics denied. Appeal probably denied in entirety.

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centre/news...ompete+olympics

Ok it is an old joke, but shall we start a fund?

please pay pechstein.

Dave.

There's an idea. Someone might send some cancer money for her 'disaster'.

But more fascinating are the possible hallway meetings in Vancouver at the Games. Dick Pound just hammered the ISU again on it's judging (figure skating), and then ISU give him the biggest present since WADA. "Hey Ottavio*, thanks for the Pechstein effort. Nothing personal on the judging comments, ok?"

If Pound were ever considering corruption, he's got a lot of learning to do.

(*Cinquanta, ISU president)

Pound will be part of a panel at UBC on Feb 8 discussing "Is high performance sport inconsistent with ideals and ethics?".

Sounds like a good topic.

http://www.communityaffairs.ubc.ca/2010/01...related-issues/

Damn - I am in Germany.

Someone please attend and report back.

Dave.

Trying to get there, and will report if I do. But I noticed on the brochure it will be podcast Feb 11.

"PODCASTS will be featured on www.theglobeandmail.com/
intellectual-muscle starting on February 11, 2010 along with
related polling questions and an online dialogue series.

Talk schedule:
http://www.communityaffairs.ubc.ca/wp-cont...rogram_WEB3.pdf

podcasts:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/intellectua...article1312702/
Most recent is Steven Owen on sport and five global challenges.

Cross-country skiing is bad, but the problems "aren't nearly as massive as in road cycling and track..."

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/2010...5986/story.html

And the worrisome doping du jour making all the headlines?

Gene Doping: The latest way to boost performance

But, the good news is that they are working on tests to detect gene doping.

However, in research conducted by scientists funded by teh American Cancer Society, as well as the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, apparently one heralded use of gene therapy is treatment of male sterility. A promising possibility for the gene therapy approach in the treatment of male infertility.

"The current result suggests we may, in fact, be able to treat male infertility using gene therapy without worrying about those types of consequences."

Here is one idea for a gene doping test: determine if a previously sterile male athlete, possibly as a results of cancer treatment, miraculously become fertile.

Dave.

Coverage of Pounds talk.



http://news.guelphmercury.com/Wire/Sports_.../article/595073

Sociopaths? Nah. Just competitive good ol' boys...Unless you piss them off.

Worshiped for their achievements, given the benefit of the doubt, defended from grand conspiracies despite overwhelming evidence?

We've got a long way to go...

I feel a bit guilty not going to the presentation as it looked interesting. Unfortunately, solutions seem to be elusive and gene doping is only going to make it harder.

The wider problem is that we reward what might be described as borderline sociopathic behaviour in sports anyway, and then expect absolute contrition from anyone who crosses the line.

Anyway, this spring weather in Vancouver is great and I can forget about all this and just ride my bike...

I think you've been hanging around current men's pro road cycling too much. I can think of lots of examples of top elite athletes who are not even close to borderline sociopathic: Clara Hughes, Steve Nash, Beckie Scott, Olav Koss, Steve Bauer, Andy Hampsten, Alison Sydor, Geoff Kabush, to name a few.

We've been worshipping borderline (some not so borderline) sociopaths in cycling for quite a while; Hinault, Longo, Grewal, Jeanson, Boyer, 10+ years of protour jokers, Rassmussen, etc.. Jock sniffing at it's worst. (dubious joke removed)

Good of you to throw a couple of non-Canadians onto your list of "good guys"

I do agree though that it's possible to be a top athlete and still be a nice person.

You're probably right...

It's a super philosophical time at present, what with either the greatest sport spectacle or the greatest boondoggle ever to hit Vancouver currently rolling in to town (maybe it's somewhere in between?). It's been fascinating watching the doubts fall (mostly) by the wayside for many as the 'excitement' starts to build.

We're a funny old bunch...

In a further anecdotal moment, my plane was delayed last night to allow the Slovenian team to make it through Customs and catch their connection.

Like my other passengers, I was more than happy to do what we could to make their trip easier. And, I was also very impressed at how organized things were at the Vancouver Airport.

When I explained the delay to my German colleagues that I had just been visiting, however, the response was "maybe they had to find the anabolics first".

Ah, the Olympics. Enjoy it, but don't look too deeply.

Dave.

Shouldn't that be organised? After all it is the Vancouver airport.

I speak 'merican.

Dave.

My sentiments exactly. I don't think it's a 'don't look too closely' thing though. It's more, maybe recognize the good, watch out for the missteps. 'Stand on guard', vs. stand to one side and point out flaws. The Olympic protesters seem to me to be completely unable to see anything good in celebrating the Olympic ideals. I think they are way too wrapped up in their own mistaken revelations that 'hey, there's something wrong, therefore everything is'. Maybe a note for us 'clean sport advocates', vs 'anti-doping critics'?



Well help me out then dammit! I do live in Canada after all. How about some others? Good medicine for sore eyes seeing doper images all the time.

Speaking of which, I hear that there will be a good post-games debate on Advocacy versus Activism that will definitely include some Olympic-related experiences. Independent of Olympic ideals, politic and sport are inexorably intertwined. If you want to make a statement, then stealing the Olympic spotlight has a well-worn, though unfortunately not worn-out, tradition.

Dave.

I like it!

There's got to be something in there somewhere, in the Olympics or pro sports in general, otherwise why would we enjoy it so!

The protesters might have a point on some things (sheesh, probably a bunch of stuff) but unfortunately they often deploy that old left-wing argument that the public (of which they're not a part, being enlightened and all that) are just mindless automatons captured by corporate propaganda and feel-good images.

As for doping, it looks like there's quite a bit of standing on guard going on:
http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/story/2010/02/1...doping-ban.html

Betty Fox as the final torch bearer? Now there's a cancer story we can all get behind...

That would be cool. Might even make my eyes moist.

I remember watching the Pia Shandel show when she covered some human interest story on a prosthetic leg being dipped into the Atlantic. This was about as obscure coverage as you could get. What a story.

Dave.

(P.S. On the Canadian sociopath list, don't forget Garth Drabinsky and Bernie Ebbers. But, like any good Canadian sociopath, Bernie moved off to find greater fortunes elsewhere. It is too damn cold in Canada to get any sort of audience.)

And... back to Olympic doping.

We have our first positive ( Female Russian Hockey player gets a warning) and confirmation that 30 athletes have been barred from competing.

I guess the IOC didn't get McQuaid's memo on how to run a clean Tour de France.

Slow learners.

Dave.

Insightful article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/sports/o.../14germany.html

Well, now that Paddy has been elected to the IOC, he can start running things his way. Zero positives in London 2012!

Very, with some useful reminders of the past

To entice the nation’s participation in the 1988 Seoul Olympics in South Korea after boycotts diminished the Summer Games in 1980 and 1984, Samaranch awarded the Olympics’ highest honor to Honecker and Manfred Ewald, East Germany’s sports minister.

“The I.O.C. buried their heads in the sand,”

The Honecker Brezhnev Kiss.

Perhaps it is revealing some prejudice, but each time a German athlete's home city is announced I listen carefully. Just like with the doping culture in cycling, it will likely take some time before all of those that supported or benefited from the Stasi programs no longer have any influence.

At the same time, I feel sorry for those Germans that had nothing and have nothing to do with that legacy. They don't need to face the extra pressure.

Dave.

Hmm, I'd thought this was over. Pechstein still fighting to skate at Olympics:

http://news.guelphmercury.com/Wire/Sports_.../article/598883

Someone should tell Pechstein that she has no chance for the gold medal.

Floyd has the gold for the "caught and convicted lie to the last breath" category wrapped up.

Pechstein would have trouble cracking the top 10.

And the winner of the "never tested positive" category is ...

And it's not over...



Read more: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/eur...y#ixzz0iK0hKFwP

Anyone else find it it odd how her 'disease' hemolyzes (destroys red blood cells) and produces peak reticulocytes (new blood cells) just in time for world cups and Olympics?

http://www.bild.de/BILD/sport/mehr-sport/2...ty=Download.jpg

Back to probabilities and possibilities.

Possible but perhaps not probable? But, if possible, wouldn't Pechstein exhibit symptoms of anemia?

Things like pallor, fatigue, shortness of breath, heart failure?

If heriditary, will they put her parents on the blood passport?

Congenital hemolytic anemia:

Hereditary (inherited) hemolytic anemia can be due to:

Defects in hemoglobin production (as in thalassemia and sickle-cell disease)
Defects of red blood cell membrane production (as in hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary elliptocytosis)
Defective red cell metabolism (as in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and pyruvate kinase deficiency).

Perhaps she needs a couple of years off to get treated for this challenging illness in order to get better.

Dave.


She was bred for competition?

Dave.