British focus on blood testing

AthleticsBlood testing is set to become the main weapon in the fight against drugs, the head of anti-doping at UK Sport has claimed, despite the fact the organisation used the technique at just one event in Britain this year.

John Scott, the international director of UK Sport, revealed yesterday the controversial method would eventually replace urine testing because it could detect more banned performance-enhancing substances and also help avoid athletes using things like false penises to avoid the current system.

"Blood testing is the future," said Scott. "It's the most effective way of discovering substances on the banned list. It's a debate that has been going on for 16 years with various issues, including ethical and religious reasons. But I think it is considered the way forward."

The issue was discussed at the annual meeting of national anti-doping organisations in Berne last week.

The keynote speaker was Rune Andersen, the World Anti-Doping Agency's director of standards and harmonisation, who revealed how athletes were buying false penises and sophisticated catheters on the internet to help them avoid returning positive urine samples.

"The momentum is shifting," said Scott. "The view coming out from WADA is that they have had enough legal opinion and blood testing needs to be done if we are to get on top of the problem.

"There is no timescale on it because one of the problems is the (small) number of labs who have the ability to do blood tests because of the specialised equipment needed."

Blood testing is currently used in only a handful of endurance sports, such as cycling and cross-country skiing, because it is a useful screening technique to determine which samples indicate unusual blood profiles and require further investigation through urine testing.

Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes has cast doubt over her participation in the World Championships next year as her Athens double win has opened up lucrative new possibilities for the 34-year-old athlete.

In South Africa yesterday on a promotional visit Holmes was asked whether she will run in next August's World Championships, the event in which last year she claimed the 800 metres silver medal.

"I'm still going to be running, but it can take second place to other things I do," she remarked. "It's (athletics) always been first since I left the army - and the army used to be first.

"I hope to take part in the indoor season and that really will depend upon how much I train and my progression."

Meanwhile, the five heavyweight cities vying to stage the 2012 Olympic Games will show their cards next week in what could be a make-or-break gambit for their hopes of landing the Games.

London, Paris, New York, Madrid and Moscow have until Tuesday to hand their candidature files to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

What lies within these files, or bid books, could mean the difference between victory and defeat for the quintet of cities engaged in the most high-profile Olympic battle ever. The IOC will select the winner next July.