Indian weightlifter Monika Devi was sentenced a two-year ban after she was found positive in a doping test on Friday. According to a report of Press Trust of India test of Devi’s backup “B”‘ sample confirmed that she had taken an unidentified banned steroid.

When asked about the scandal, Devi claimed that she was framed by officials. In her claim context, the government ordered an investigation by retired bureaucrat T.S. Krishnamoorthy, who said that the weightlifter’s sample will be tested at a World Anti-Doping Authority-accredited laboratory in Tokyo. Though, Indian weightlifting officials refused to give any comment regarding Devi’s alleged doping violation. A legal case involving her in another doping scandal is still pending in the Delhi High Court.

Last summer, the government-run Sports Authority of India (SAI) blocked Devi’s participation entry in Beijing Olympics after an initial test, done by an Indian laboratory, of her “A” sample reported positive. The current case is second in a row involving her.

Recently, Indian weightlifting has been badly hit by doping scandals as three lifters got suspension since May. Repeated violations of banned substance rules had also caused India two-times ban from international competition since the 2004 Athens Olympics.

From CNN:

Indian weightlifter Monika Devi faces a two-year ban after testing positive for a doping substance, media reports said Friday.

Press Trust of India reported that Devi’s backup “B”‘ sample confirmed she had consumed an unidentified banned steroid.

Last summer, the government-run Sports Authority of India (SAI) stopped Devi from competing at the Beijing Olympics after an initial test by an Indian laboratory reported a positive finding on Devi’s “A” sample.

Devi claimed she was framed by officials and the government ordered an investigation by retired bureaucrat T.S. Krishnamoorthy. He asked that the weightlifter’s “B” sample be tested at a World Anti-Doping Authority-accredited laboratory in Tokyo.

Indian weightlifting officials refused to comment on Devi’s alleged doping violation as a legal case is pending in the Delhi High Court.

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From The Independent:

In the 100m quarter-finals in the Bird’s Nest, Usain Bolt flew down the track to the 50-metre mark, then shut down his engine and coasted to victory in 9.92sec. Breaking 10 seconds is still considered a sporting feat of note, but Bolt did it without breaking sweat. It was obvious then that the 9.70sec barrier would not survive the final.

And so it proved, although nobody could have envisaged the breathtaking manner in which Bolt would shatter it. Some suggested it was as stunning as Ben Johnson’s 9.79sec win in Seoul back in 1988. But, even pumped up to the yellowing eyeballs on anabolic steroids, Big Bad Ben did not produce quite such a jaw-dropping performance in the most notorious Olympic 100m final. He was flat to the boards until he raised an index finger in celebration as the finish line approached. His winning margin over Carl Lewis was 0.13sec.

Bolt started his celebrations some 20m from the line, stretching out both arms in a “Hey, get me” statement, then beating his right fist against his chest. He still managed to stop the digits on the trackside clock at 9.69, and won by a margin of 0.20sec – a veritable street in sprinting terms.

The clowning that followed was far from the preening arrogance of so many American speed merchants down the years. It was a joyous, natural breath of fresh air from a young man who has redefined the term Cool Runnings.

In an event that looked to be in terminal decline from a barrage of drug scandals, the Lightning Bolt was just what the doctor might have ordered for the mens’ 100m, and for track and field. He had fueled himself on chicken nuggets, and he proceeded to have Michael Johnson’s treasured 200m world record for breakfast. With a little help from his Jamaican friends, he also consigned the 4 x 100m relay world record to history.

Bolt’s impressive performance on the track in Beijing had not only yielded accolades but scrutiny as well.

BALCO founder Victor Conte voiced out his concern in connection with athletes like Bolt who hail from Caribbean countries. Most of these countries lack independent anti-doping agencies to check the cleanliness of these athletes according to confessed and jailed steroid supplier Conte.

American sprint star Carl Lewis similarly expressed his disbelief of Bolt’s performance with this statement: “I’m still working with the fact he dropped from 10-flat to 9.6 in one year,” American Lewis was quoted as saying. “I think there are some issues … countries like Jamaica do not have a random (dope control) program so they can go months without being tested.”

Bolt, in response, said: “I know I’m clean. I work hard for what I want,”

“I know what he said. To me it doesn’t really matter what he said, a lot of people were saying that.

“Carl Lewis can say whatever he wants. That’s just his opinion,” Lewis said

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The International Olympic Committee announced that two medalists and a fourth finisher in the Beijing Olympics were disqualified due to doping violations.

Hammer throwers Vadim Devyatovskiy and Ivan Tsikhan, both from Belarus, face ban for testing positive for abnormal levels of testosterone. Devyatoskiy’s penalty could be a lifetime ban since this is second doping offense. He served his first offense in 2000-2002. It is Tsikhan’s first offense and he’s likely to get a two-year ban from the sport.

The two were found guilty during their meeting with the IOC disciplinary committee in Lausanne in September.

Their disqualifications have stripped them of their medals. Devyatovskiy and Tsikhan won the silver and bronze in Beijing, respectively. The silver medal now goes to Belarus Krisztian Pars and the bronze to Japan’s Koji Murofushi. Slovenia’s Primoz Kozmus won the gold in that event.

Polish canoeist Adam Seroczynski, meanwhile, was disqualified for testing for the weight-loss drug Clenbuterol. Some reports classified Clenbuterol as an anabolic steroid. Seroczynski was the fourth finisher in the flatwater K2 event in Beijing.

These three recent cases bring the total number of disqualified athletes in testing carried out during the Games to nine. The six athletes disqualified during the Games were Ukrainian heptathlete Lyudmila Blonska, Ukrainian weightlifter Igor Razoronov, Greek hurdler Fani Halkia, North Korean shooter Kim Jong Su, Spanish cyclist Isabel Moreno and Vietnamese gymnast Thi Ngan Thuong Do.

Prior to the commencement of the Beijing Olympics, more than a dozen athletes were barred from participating at the Games for doping violations. Among those disqualified were 11 members of the Greek weightlifting team when they tested positive for steroids in April.

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To the 2008 Beijing Olympics athletes, to be stripped of medals is a bad, bad way to start 2009. Our advice to them? Take in all in stride. Look at the four riders in this year’s Tour de France who tested for CERA long after the cameras flashed and the medals awarded. Their collective sigh was: C’est la vie!

The International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday about 500 samples will undergo retroactive testing in January. Of that number are about 400 blood tests to be retested for third-generation drug CERA, while 100 are urine samples which will be tested for insulin. A WADA lab in Cologne, Germany will handle the retesting of the urine samples. According to AP report, the lab has come up with a reliable test for insulin which, like anabolic steroids, is considered a performance-enhancing drug.

IOC’s statement said the tests “will primarily target endurance events in cycling, rowing, swimming and athletics.” The test results are expected to be in by the end of March.

It was in October when IOC has announced its plan to carry out retroactive testing subsequent to AFLD’s (French anti-doping agency) statement that it will retest samples from the 2008 Tour de France riders. AFLD has developed a more effective method to test blood samples for new generation performance boosters like CERA. The new testing method caught four riders.

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One Times Online article labeled International Olympic president Jacques Rogge as a “deluded individual” when Rogge expressed his displeasure of Usain Bolt’s celebration of his victory at Beijing. Usain earned Rogge’s rebuke when the Jamaican sprinter failed to shake hands with his co-competitors after his impressive win at the 100 meters.

However, Rogge’s recent interview with the BBC’s Inside Sport, as related by AFP, portrayed a very pragmatic man. The IOC president said those who aspire for a 100 percent drug-free Olympics were out of touch with reality. He added cheating will always be part of human nature.

“I think one has to be realistic,” Rogge said.

“Drug-free sport in general is Utopia. It will be naive to believe that no-one will take drugs.

“There are about 400 million people practicing sport on this globe, there are not 400 million saints on earth.

“Cheating is embedded in human nature and doping is to sport what criminality is to society.

“You will always need cops and judges and prisons and jails and rules and regulations.”

IOC is planning to catch more users of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancers as it’s currently implementing re-testing of the samples taken at the Beijing Olympics. The IOC head “expects further positive doping cases to emerge from these” up to 2016 Games.

Rogge said all the samples they obtained from Beijing – more than 5,000 screenings, including nearly 1,000 blood samples – will be available for retroactive testing. The blood samples will be screened for new generation performance-enhancing drugs CERA and insulin. And if new testing techniques will emerge between now and 2016, the same samples will go through re-testing.

“We are keeping the samples for eight years and we are going to re-test them,” said Rogge.

“And ultimately the judgment on the Beijing Games will be given in eight years’ time, because each time a new scientific test is coming up we are going to re-test.”

Rogge assumed the IOC position on July 2001, replacing Juan Antonio Samaranch. Rogge has his share of criticisms and the most recent of these were his disapproval of Bolt’s behavior (mentioned above) and his statement regarding Greek athletes. He allegedly stated that “Greece won the gold medal in doping” because of a spate of failed dope tests of Greek athletes.

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Max Jaben, member of the Israeli swimming team, has been penalized with a one-year suspension due to a failed dope test.

The 23-year-old Jaben qualified to represent Israel in the Olympics but missed the chance to swim in Beijing when he tested positive for the anabolic steroid boldenone (commonly sold under the trade name Equipoise) in his two samples. In his “A” sample, taken on April, traces of boldenone were detected. His “B” sample was likewise found to contain the prohibited compound.

The Israeli Swimming Association could have imposed a two-year suspension but opted for only a year since it’s Jaben’s first offense and he already missed the Olympics, said Yaron Michaeli, spokesperson for ISA.

Jaben grew up in Kansas City and attended the University of Florida for two years before transferring to the University of Missouri. He became a member of the swim teams of both universities.

Jaben attempted to make it to the United States Olympic swim team but failed on two occasions. He then made aliyah to Israel.

When interviewed after the announcement of his disqualification from Beijing Olympics, Jaben stated his disappointment.

“I felt like a plane crashed. I went from being atop the world. As of right now, it’s all gone,” said Jaben. “It’s a horrible feeling, something that I’ve never imagined feeling…

“As a sportsman, this is the lowest low that you can go.”

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As they say, it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.

This seems to be the case with the anti-doping testing at the 2008 Olympics. Although the international games have already commenced and concluded in August, there are still tests being carried out by the International Olympic Committee to determine who among the participants in Beijing had used the third generation blood booster known as CERA, or continuous erythropoiesis receptor activator.

IOC president Jacques Rogge himself confirmed that the number of doping cases in this year’s Olympics is expected to climb.

“There were 39 cases before the Olympics, while there were eight cases during the Olympics and seven cases are still in the pipeline, so there could be 15 cases in total,” Rogge told Austrian news agency APA.

“But we are going ahead very carefully. I expect results in four to six weeks.”

The IOC has been implementing strict anti-doping policy to deter athletes from using anabolic steroids and other prohibited compounds. Rogge, however, emphasizes a lifetime ban for first time offenders is too harsh.

“No court in the world would approve that. Any athlete would win a civil court,” he said.
“I think doping with anabolic steroids and EPO should be followed by a four-year ban.

“But first-time offenders can’t be banned for life. Criminals are also not shot the first time they are caught.”

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics more than 5000 urine samples have been taken, including more than 1,000 blood samples.

Testing for CERA is found to be more accurate when using blood samples.

The IOC had announced in October that they are going to retest blood samples taken from the participants in Beijing. The announcement came after the French anti-doping agency (AFLD) has developed a new method to effectively test for CERA. AFLD had also implemented retroactive testing for the 2008 Tour de France blood samples.

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A big “OOOPS” from the anti-doping officials.

The 300 or so test results, which had initially been reported missing by a team of independent observers during their recent visit in Beijing, have been traced by the International Olympic Committee. All tested negative for prohibited compounds.

According to the AP report, the team of 10 observers had been tasked by the World Anti-Doping Agency to review the Beijing Olympics drug-testing program.  The missing test results had been included in the team’s final report to WADA.

“Once the laboratory had apparently delivered all reports to the IO (independent observer) team, it transpired that around 300 test results were missing in comparison to the doping control forms,” the WADA report said.

“Regarding the ‘300 missing tests,’ it is our understanding that there has been a communication problem between the Beijing laboratory and the IO team on the results of a number of tests,” IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said in an e-mail. “The results of these tests were communicated to the IOC by the end of August. All were negative. The results have now been transmitted to the IO team.”

Apparently, the team conferred with the IOC’s medical commission regarding said results’ status, but IOC was unable to finish processing of the lab results in time for the group’s completion of their final report last month.

The procedural lapse had put the credibility of the anti-doping program in the Beijing Olympics. Additionally, the team reported another significant loophole in IOC’s control doping process at the Beijing Olympics.  It was found out that 102 of the 205 participating countries failed to provide sports officials with whereabouts information regarding their athletes. Such information is needed to implement pre-Games and out-of-competition testing.

It was not all negative points for the IOC however. The WADA group gave their thumbs up to the increased number of overall tests (4,770), blood tests (969) and tests for EPO (817) and human growth hormone (471). The 2008 Olympics implemented the largest drug-testing program in the history of the Olympics.

Six athletes were thrown out for doping violations during the Olympics, and three other cases are still pending.

The most controversial case of doping at Beijing has been Fani Halkia, the Greek hurdler who won the gold at the at the women’s 400m hurdles at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. On August 16 at the Beijing Olympics, Halkia tested positive for the anabolic steroidss methytrienolone.

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Official independent drug testing observers are dismayed to discover that up to 300 test results taken from athletes who participated at the 2008 Beijing Olympics are missing. Hiding behind a silk curtain, perhaps?

The team, which is made up of 10 independent observers tasked with evaluating the Games’ drug testing procedures, filed their findings (or the lack thereof) to the World Anti-Doping Agency. Their reports reads: “Once the (Beijing) laboratory had apparently delivered all reports to the independent observer team it transpired that around 300 [steroid] test results were missing in comparison to the doping control forms” The team checked the status of the laboratory results with the International Olympic Committee medical chairman and the observers reported that the IOC too “may be missing some reports”.

Another significant lapse (or was it an intentional lapse?) discovered by the team is that said Beijing lab has been ill-equipped to test for insulin, one of WADA’s prohibited substances.

And there is another deviation from anti-doping protocol. The observers noted that almost half of the national Olympic committees failed to provide necessary whereabouts information of their athletes. This aspect is prerequisite so that pre-Games and out-of-competition drug testing for anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs can be effectively carried out.

It was reported that out 204 national teams which participated at the Summer Games 102 nations did not fulfill this requirement.

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In a recent telephone interview with Reuters, Usain Bolt insists he is squeaky clean and that he has gained track stardom due to hard training.

Bolt also answers back to American sprint superstar Carl Lewis’ scrutiny that he may be on some performance boosters when he smashed world records at the recently concluded Beijing Olympics.

Lewis has dropped some controversial comments during his interview with Sports Illustrated. His comments have sparked indignation in Jamaica, Lightning Bolt’s country.

“I’m still working with the fact he dropped from 10-flat to 9.6 in one year,” American Lewis was quoted as saying. “I think there are some issues … countries like Jamaica do not have a random (dope control) programme so they can go months without being tested.”

But Bolt attempts to negate Lewis’ insinuation.

“I know I’m clean. I work hard for what I want,” said the 6-foot-5 sprinter.

“I know what he said,” said the Jamaican. “To me it doesn’t really matter what he said, a lot of people were saying that.

“When you run the 100 metres that’s what you get. As long as you’re fast they start saying that.

“It’s like a trend. I’m trying to change that. It’s a bad image for the sport.

“Carl Lewis can say whatever he wants. That’s just his opinion.”

Indeed, a lot of tongues went a-wagging when Bolt won the gold in 100m, 200m, and 4×100 relay events – quite easily in the view of many observers. Thus, the suspicion that Bolt maybe using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs for such an impressive runs.

But Bolt says he owed it all to strict training.

“The 200 is also sprinting, that was key,” he said. “The only thing I had to do was get my start right and I got my start right.

“That’s why my last 50 metres are so good because I’ve got speed and endurance.”

Bolt also denies the accusations thrown at him by many of his naysayers that there is inadequate testing program in his country, as well as in other Caribbean nations.

“For sure we get tested in the Caribbean,” he said. “They like to come to your house early in the morning.

“It’s not cool getting up at six, seven in the morning when you’re just trying to enjoy your sleep. But I know what it’s for and it’s fair. We get tested all the time.

“When you’re in the top 20 in the world you get random tested. They get to know your whereabouts.”

Further, Bolt talks about his career path. He says he would definitely defend his records at the London Olympics in 2012.

I’ll be in London … I hope it isn’t cold,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that. “I can be champion again. I’ll be 26 then. I have a lot of time on my hands. All I have to do is stay focused, train hard and be ready.”

And track fans would probably see him in the 400 meters.

“In the future I’ll probably step up to 400 metres,” he said. “But it’s a lot of work. I’m not ready for that kind of work.”

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