Basketball: Fiba warns of danger in supplements

By PETER JESSUP

Sportspeople would be well advised to heed a drug warning issued by basketball's international governing body Fiba following random testing of nutritional supplements.

The Cologne Institute of Biochemistry broke down 634 capsules, powders and drinks sold as aiding sporting performance. Of those, 94 were found to contain pro-hormones of banned substances as listed by the International Olympic Committee.

The products included creatine, glutamine, pyruvate, ribose and carnitane which were named on labels. Not on the labels of the 94 offending samples were the fact that 64 included testosterone, seven included nandrolone and 23 had traces of both controlled substances. Others contained bolderone, ephidrine, strychnine and caffeine.

Fiba said that of 36 doping tests conducted during last year's world championship, one positive was returned for the steroid nandrolone. It did not name the player or team, but it was not a New Zealander.

The Cologne institute said cross-contamination of products was one reason for the appearance of unwanted and unlabelled substances.

But dirty samples also appeared in products from manufacturers who did not use nandrolone, testosterone and other substances.

Fiba has asked all national associations to report the findings to national teams from age-group level up and to conduct information sessions to warn players.

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New Tall Ferns coach Carrie Graf arrived in the country last night and will go straight to a camp for the squad at Unitec. The core of the 2002 Ferns squad, including captain Rebecca Cotton, are playing overseas so Basketball New Zealand has selected promising talent for Graf to review.

The 35-year-old, who won five Australian titles as a player and three as a coach as well as acting as assistant coach to their national team, will name her own squad after the three-day session at Unitec in Auckland.

The Ferns' only scheduled assignment this year is the Olympic qualifying series against Australia but BBNZ is attempting to organise other internationals, including participation at a tournament in Taiwan.

Strong rumour has it that Graf will be assisted by new Hawkes Bay men's coach and former Tall Fern Kirsten Daly.

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Tall Blacks continue to perform with distinction.

Captain Pero Cameron has led the Chester Jets to a 22-7 season so far, second only to Sheffield Sharks, with the Jets to play third-placed Brighton Bears this week.

Sean Marks had 23 minutes for the Miami Heat, his most court-time this season, in a tough ask against the San Antonio "Twin Towers" Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

Marks shot three from six field-goals and took two rebounds, made one steal and one block as the Heat got burned 84-69, their playoff hopes dwindling with a 19-37 record.

Phill Jones has been elevated to the starting line-up for Oregon Scientific Cantu in the Italian league and their record is 18-5, second to Bennetton.

Mark Dickel is a regular for Fenerbache in the Turkish league.

Kirk Penney has been devastating for the University of Wisconsin, scoring five from seven from the three-point line and one of two free-throws for 16 points in his last game. The Badgers have a 21-6 record and hold first place in the NCAA university championship.

Paul Henare and coach Nenad Vucinic are finding it tough in the Serbian league, their record being 3-9 at OKK Belgrade.

The NBL will tip off with three mid-week games on April 23, the new Taranaki "Mountain Airs" hosting champions Waikato, Nelson going to Wellington and the Hawks to Palmerston North.

Taranaki coach Warren Osbourne has announced his signings: guards Willie Banks and Willie Collins, Blair Brookes and Jarod Rohan; centre Nathan Martin; forwards Link Abrams, Ben Van Oosten, Carl Green, Oliver Hill and Che Yandle.

Auckland's first game is against Canterbury at Unitec on April 26, and the Rams open North Harbour's season on April 27.