Fresh allegations of doping involving hundreds of blood samples are rocking the world of athletics. Results of over 12,000 blood tests from more
ADVERTISEMENTFresh allegations of doping involving hundreds of blood samples are rocking the world of athletics.
Results of over 12,000 blood tests from more than 5,000 athletes have been leaked to Britain’s Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD including Olympic and world championship winners.
British broadcaster the BBC reported that one third of medals at the Olympics and world championships between 2001 and 2012 were won by athletes who have recored “suspicious tests.”
The BBC report said a third of medals in endurance events at the Olympics and world championships between 2001 and 2012 were won by athletes who have recorded “suspicious tests”.
The world anti-doping agency says it is alarmed by the extent of the allegations.
“Athletes must be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty,” said :Craig Reedie, World Anti-Doping Agency President. “These are wild allegations, wide allegations, and we have to check them out. And we will have that done by the commission as quickly as possible.”
When asked “How surprised are you by the scale of all this?,” Mr. Reedie said: “I’m very surprised that the numbers that seem to come from the leak from the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations). I’m equally sure that they will want to look very closely at this to see if they can determine the source.”
The news was revealed as global sports leaders were meeting in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
“Doping is a big stress for the 21st century and this is not new, but everyone should know, for cheaters, no space, not in athletics, not in other sport, not in Olympic Movement,” said Sergey Bubka, IAAF Vice President.
Cheating by the use of banned substances has long been a scourge of athletics, from the systematic doping in the former East Germany to Ben Johnson’s disqualification from the 1988 Olympics.