| | Associated Press
LONDON -- The World Anti-Doping Agency is ready to
investigate reports that five Italian gold-medal winners at the
Sydney Olympics registered high levels of human growth hormone in
blood tests earlier this year.
Canadian officials have asked the agency to look into the
allegations and determine whether the athletes committed doping
violations and should be sanctioned.
Harri Syvasalmi, WADA's secretary general, said Thursday he
expects the agency will ask Italian authorities for an explanation
and offer to carry out an independent inquiry.
"It's only natural we should send a letter asking to be
informed," he said in a telephone interview from Lausanne,
Switzerland. "We will be proposing that we would be able to be
part of the independent (investigation) of the situation."
Syvasalmi noted that, earlier this year, WADA asked Australian
authorities for a report following publication of a book by former
discus thrower Werner Reiterer, who alleged that sports officials
condoned and covered up systematic doping among elite Australian
athletes.
"In a way, this Italian situation is similar to that,"
Syvasalmi said. "We will ask a few questions of them. We want to
clarify whether (the allegations) are true or not. These sort of
allegations and perceptions should be answered.
"WADA is an independent body of experts. It's natural and
logical that we should have more information on that. It's our job.
It's our duty. There's a need to investigate the issue carefully.
We can offer our services to investigate. We could give an
independent platform for that."
Corriere della Sera newspaper reported Saturday that 61 Italian
athletes showed high levels of human growth hormone, or hGH, in
blood tests carried out last spring and summer.
Among the athletes were five who went on to win gold medals in
Sydney: kayaker Josefa Idem Guerrini, swimmer Massimiliano
Rosolino, rower Agostino Abbagnale, cyclist Antonella Bellutti and
fencer Giovanna Trillini.
No Italians failed drug tests in Sydney. The five gold medalists
have denied any wrongdoing, and the Italian Olympic Committee
branded the doping claims as "morally irresponsible."
While hGH is on the IOC's list of banned substances, no valid
scientific test has been approved for detecting the drug.
Dick Pound, a Canadian who chairs WADA and is a senior IOC
official, gave a cautious assessment.
"I don't know what these so-called tests were," he said by
telephone from Montreal. "I have no idea what the effect of major
physical training might be on hormones. There certainly seems to be
data that suggests that rigorous training would increase the levels
beyond what they otherwise might be."
Canadian officials have been pushing for an investigation on
behalf of kayaker Caroline Brunet, who finished second behind
Guerrini in the 500-meter K-1 final in Sydney.
"We understand there is no internationally accepted standard
test for the human growth hormone and that this case remains an
Italian Olympic Committee issue," Canadian Olympic Committee chief
executive Carol Anne Letheren said in a letter to WADA and IOC
president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
"However, given WADA's strong stand against
performance-enhancing drugs, especially human growth hormone, we
feel it is critical that WADA investigate these allegations and
impose sanctions, as warranted."
The Canadian secretary of state for amateur sport, Denis
Coderre, has supported calls for an inquiry.
On Wednesday, Italian Sports and Culture Minister Giovanna
Melandri came out in defense of the Italian athletes.
"It is incumbent upon us to defend and respect the performance
of our athletes in Sydney and above all their personal dignity,"
she said.
Canadian reports have suggested that Brunet could be awarded a
gold medal if Guerrini is found guilty of doping. But Pound played
down that possibility.
"It does strike me as a reach," he said.
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