The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) performed 880 doping control tests during the third quarter of 2001, USADA Chief Executive Officer Terry Madden announced Wednesday. The 880 doping control tests covered 40 sports.
Four hundred and twenty-one tests were out-of-competition (OOC) tests done between July and September 2001, and 68 short notice out-of-competitions tests were completed during the third quarter. Short notice testing is when an athlete knows testing will occur no more than 24 hours prior to the testing. An example of short notice testing would be a test conducted during a training camp.
In addition, the remaining 391 tests were in an event-testing situation completed during that aforementioned three-month period. During 2001, USADA has performed 3,591 tests (870 out-of-competition, 271 short notice and 2,454 event tests).
The number of OOC tests during the third quarter increased by 29 percent from the second quarter of 2001. Overall, more than 99 percent of the third quarter tests were found negative.
“We saw a sizable boost in our out-of-competition testing numbers during the third quarter. USADA has increased its out-of-competition testing numbers, and we will continue to follow that trend in our goal to deter doping in sport. Our event numbers are somewhat lower due in part to the September 11 tragedy, which forced the cancellation of several major competitions,” said Madden.
Among the nine adverse laboratory findings received during the third quarter, three cases were for samples for which the athlete had prior notification records on file for the use of a restricted substance (salbutamol). The test results are thus reported as negative with respect to a doping offense. Three cases involve the use of prohibited stimulants (pseudoephedrine – two cases – and ephedrine) and three cases involve anabolic steroids (norandrosterone, and two testosterone to epitestosterone [T/E] ratios) for U.S. athletes. Two cases completed the USADA adjudication process within two weeks (11 and 13 days), and a sanction was issued. Two athletes also refused to be tested, and those cases have been referred to the adjudication process.
Under a reciprocal agreement, three cases (all in track and field) dealing with U.S. athletes were referred from international federations to USADA for adjudication under its protocol. The three adverse laboratory findings involved anabolic steroids (two cases with stanozolol and one with testosterone).
One case from the fourth quarter of 2000, and one case from the first quarter of 2001 are in the adjudication process. Additionally, investigation continues for three adverse findings from the second quarter of 2001, and two adverse findings are under investigation from third quarter.
In third quarter 2001, nine athletes were sanctioned in cases that involved 11 adverse findings. One of the athletes had three adverse findings during the first two quarters of 2001. Additionally, one case from the first quarter of 2001 was dismissed after it was determined there was no doping offense.
The initial step of the USADA adjudication process involves review of all documentation by an independent panel of experts selected from the members of the USADA Anti-Doping Review Board. The review panel recommends whether there is sufficient evidence of a doping offense according to the rules to proceed with a sanction or appeal hearing.
The detection of a banned substance may or may not be ruled a doping violation.
USADA is the independent anti-doping agency for Olympic sports in the United States, and is responsible for managing the testing and adjudication process for U.S. Olympic, Pan Am, and Paralympic athletes. USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.
The breakdown of tests can be found following this release. USADA announces its test findings four times annually. The 2001 fourth quarter findings will be announced in mid-January 2002.
THIRD QUARTER, 2001 U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY TEST RECORDS (July-September 2001)
Type of Testing 3rd Qtr 2001
Sport OOC1 OOC2 Event Total Total
Archery 3 0 8 11 33
Badminton 2 0 4 6 15
Baseball 0 0 0 0 24
Basketball 10 0 0 10 115
Biathlon 22 0 0 22 91
Bobsled/Skeleton 28 27 0 55 117
Bowling 0 0 0 0 17
Boxing 0 12 0 12 62
Canoe/Kayak 4 0 13 17 48
Curling 1 0 0 1 16
Cycling 15 0 75 90 185
Disabled Sports 4 0 12 16 46
Diving 3 0 0 3 35
Equestrian 1 0 0 1 15
Fencing 2 0 0 2 61
Field Hockey 1 4 0 5 58
Figure Skating 9 0 0 9 61
Gymnastics 7 0 28 35 45
Ice Hockey 27 0 0 27 49
Judo 3 0 33 36 75
Karate 0 0 11 11 11
Luge 8 0 0 8 33
Modern Pentathlon 3 0 0 3 16
Racquetball 1 0 0 1 7
Roller Sports 0 0 12 12 32
Rowing 20 0 76 96 134
Sailing 1 0 8 9 15
Shooting 2 0 0 2 72
Skiing/Snowboarding 44 0 0 44 207
Soccer 0 15 0 15 50
Speed skating 36 0 0 36 104
Squash 2 0 4 6 7
Swimming 46 0 63 109 243
Synchronized Swimming 0 0 6 6 23
Table Tennis 0 0 6 6 7
Taekwondo 2 0 4 4 39
Team Handball 1 0 0 1 1
Track and Field 50 0 20 70 951
Triathlon 5 0 8 13 64
Volleyball 10 10 0 20 42
Water Polo 0 0 0 0 3
Water Skiing 0 0 0 0 14
Weightlifting 38 0 0 38 279
Wrestling 10 0 0 10 59
Total 421 68 391 880 3,591
KEY:
OOC1: Out-of-Competition Testing (no-advance notice)
OOC2: Out-of-Competition Testing (short notice)
Event: Event Testing
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