Olympics: Testing for human growth hormone on cards

Anti-doping officials have hinted that competitors at the Olympics will be tested for human growth hormone (hGH) for the first time.

Officials at the World Anti-doping Agency have refused to confirm whether athletes will be screened for hGH - which works in the same way as steroids - believing that it is better to keep the drugs cheats guessing.

However, in their annual report the agency confirmed that a test to detect excess hGH has been finalised.

The report states: "The research funded by the agency to date has already yielded significant results. Research groups have developed methods to detect human growth hormone when used to enhance athletic performance.

"These groups worked through 2003 to finalise a test that will detect hGH external to what is naturally produced by the body.

"In addition, significant progress was made in research on blood doping, including that of haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers and blood transfusion, whereby an athlete receives compatible blood from a donor just prior to competition.

"Work is well under way to finalise detection methods for these types of blood doping, with implementation foreseen in the near future."

The report adds weight to the belief by Professor Peter Sonksen, the British scientist who led the development of the test, that the time was right for the agency to introduce it for Athens.


- INDEPENDENT