Hickey supports new EPO drug test

Pat Hickey, the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, has reacted positively to the announcement from Lausanne yesterday that the new test for detecting EPO, one of the most prevalent performance-enhancing drugs across a range of sports, has been approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The combined blood-urine test, developed by Australian and French laboratories, obtained the go-ahead from an IOC panel of scientists and doping experts earlier this month and now with the backing of the IOC's Juridical commission and the IOC executive board, it clears the way for the use of the test at next month's Sydney Olympics.

"I think this has to be seen as a big breakthrough," said Hickey. "Testing with blood is certainly a big improvement on testing with urine, and so that makes it a major step forward in catching athletes who use illegal drugs.

"But there is the prevention factor as well. Athletes now know that there will be a much higher detection rate with this test, and that will put of lot more of them off the temptation to mess around with doping."

Finding a dependable test for EPO, which stimulates the production of oxygen-rich red blood cells, has long been a top priority for the IOC. The drug, originally developed to help fight kidney disease, has become increasingly popular among endurance athletes over the last decade, especially cyclists, long-distance runners and swimmers.

"I know that from the perspective of the International Olympic Committee that this breakthrough has taken a very long time. There had been a lot of problems in trying to get the scientists to agree on what road the new test should take. There were a lot of varied opinions out there but now everyone is on board together.

"But it was never going to be a case of the IOC deciding to do this test in the morning. There has been a lot of work put into this and now it can be put to maximum use in the battle against drugs."

IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch said it was another key victory in the fight against cheats. "This is a very important step forward," said Samaranch.

Prince Alexandre de Merode, head of the IOC's medical commission, warned that any athlete who refused to take the joint blood-urine test would be thrown out of the Games.

"It is very simple. No one is forced to compete. We have our rules and it is also in the constitution that they must take the test. If they don't they are out," said De Merode.

IOC executive board member Jacques Rogge added that anyone who refused the test would be considered guilty of doping.

"This new test is a major breakthrough. It is a very fine day for us," said Rogge. "Of course there will be legal action taken against us by athletes who test positive but we are sure we will have the full backing of any judge should the case go to court," he added.

More than 2,500 drug tests will be carried out during the Sydney Olympics. Four hundred will be for EPO.

"The out of competition tests will be carried out all over Australia. There will be no hiding," said Rogge. "The moment an athlete steps foot in the country he is liable to be tested anytime," he added.

Unlike previous dope tests where an 'A' sample and a 'B' sample were needed, only one sample will be needed to get an EPO result.