ID :
203634
Fri, 08/26/2011 - 09:45
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203634
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IOC chief Rogge says willing to cooperate for blood testing
DAEGU, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said Friday that the global Olympic body is willing to work with others to step up its blood testing.
"We're great proponents of all this call for blood passport," Rogge said at a press conference here, following the IOC's joint meeting with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on the eve of the World Championships in Athletics.
Rogge was referring to the procedure that collects blood samples from athletes to build a biological passport, or a database of references covering various biomarkers.
The question was raised following a recent IAAF decision to conduct blood tests on all athletes in what it called "an unprecedented anti-doping program." The IAAF said it will be the first time that nearly 2,000 athletes at a major sports competition receive blood tests under the same optimal conditions.
The IOC conducts random blood tests on athletes, but it only began collecting blood samples at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"We would absolutely be willing to cooperate with international federations during the London Games (in 2012)," Rogge said. "The blood passport requires frequent testing on a regular basis, and sampling in London will be (one part) in a long series of tests for which we're going to work with international federations."
Rogge was adamant that the IOC will not alter its tough stance on drug offenders. U.S. runner LaShawn Merritt, the reigning world and Olympic champion in the men's 400m, recently served a 21-month suspension after a positive drug test. He is challenging the IOC rule that bans athletes with a drug suspension longer than six months from the next Olympics.
"The position of the IOC is very clear; it's not a matter of sanctions, but it's a matter of eligibility," Rogge said. "To be able to participate (in the Olympics), athletes can't have been sanctioned for more than six months."
He said the CAS has had hearings and a decision is expected by the end of September. Merritt is here to compete at the world championships, after his two-year ban from October 2009 was reduced to 21 months by the American Arbitration Association.
"We're great proponents of all this call for blood passport," Rogge said at a press conference here, following the IOC's joint meeting with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on the eve of the World Championships in Athletics.
Rogge was referring to the procedure that collects blood samples from athletes to build a biological passport, or a database of references covering various biomarkers.
The question was raised following a recent IAAF decision to conduct blood tests on all athletes in what it called "an unprecedented anti-doping program." The IAAF said it will be the first time that nearly 2,000 athletes at a major sports competition receive blood tests under the same optimal conditions.
The IOC conducts random blood tests on athletes, but it only began collecting blood samples at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
"We would absolutely be willing to cooperate with international federations during the London Games (in 2012)," Rogge said. "The blood passport requires frequent testing on a regular basis, and sampling in London will be (one part) in a long series of tests for which we're going to work with international federations."
Rogge was adamant that the IOC will not alter its tough stance on drug offenders. U.S. runner LaShawn Merritt, the reigning world and Olympic champion in the men's 400m, recently served a 21-month suspension after a positive drug test. He is challenging the IOC rule that bans athletes with a drug suspension longer than six months from the next Olympics.
"The position of the IOC is very clear; it's not a matter of sanctions, but it's a matter of eligibility," Rogge said. "To be able to participate (in the Olympics), athletes can't have been sanctioned for more than six months."
He said the CAS has had hearings and a decision is expected by the end of September. Merritt is here to compete at the world championships, after his two-year ban from October 2009 was reduced to 21 months by the American Arbitration Association.
