No doubt about Merlene’s innocence

Those of us who support good science and have conducted any research on steroids and sports in general and Nandrolone in particular are not surprised at the decision by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) arbitration panel in the case of Jamaica’s track legend Merlene Ottey. My worry was whether the panel would succumb to the pressure of the IAAF. Fortunately the panel demonstrated its integrity by making a decision based on the weight of the evidence presented, just as the local panel did.

The whole matter of setting limits and testing for metabolites of Nandrolone is fraught with uncertainty and disagreement. Searching questions are being asked about the limits set by the IAAF for this particular drug by several individuals and organizations, including FIFA, but in this instance I wish to address the other side of the issue – that of the analyses.

There seems to be the impression that Merlene has escaped on a "technicality". The fact is that sampling, storage and analytical methods affect results of analyses. Using inorganic geochemistry as an example, if I am testing rocks for the element sodium (found in common salt), I would get the sample into the appropriate solution and then carry out my analyses. But I cannot store the solution in glass flasks because the sodium in the glass) by mistake will be leached (absorbed sample solution, giving me results which are higher than they should be. The significance of the error so introduced will depend on the level of sodium in my sample.

Other examples of samples being affected by various conditions could be quoted; the most familiar to readers would be substances which are placed in dark bottles because they are sensitive to light. In some cases the sample could be temperature sensitive, in others it could be pH, (acidity). Because of such reasons, the exact way of carrying out analyses and doing calculations for results are established, and analysts are required to follow them exactly and to do the correct thing every time.

If specific gravity (s.g.) is important in the calculation of the results in this particular test, and the specific gravity of the sample can change, this change must be kept to a minimum and it must be clearly stated which value of the s.g. is to be used. This is where the chain of custody of the sample becomes critical. The sample has to be kept under very controlled conditions if the analysis is not being done at the time of sampling. Some person or persons must take responsibility for ensuring that these conditions are met exactly until the test is completed. In the case of the samples of Merlene’s urine taken by the IAAF, this was not done. Not only was the chain of custody compromised, the conditions under which the samples were kept were, apparently, inappropriate.

Another consideration is that at low concentrations, very small errors can be significant. So going back to my rock sample, if my rock contains forty percent sodium, then if twenty parts per million leach into the solution from my container, it will not significantly affect my result. If however my sample concentration is five parts per million and one part per million leaches into the solution, I have a significant error. At the minute concentrations being analysed in the case of nandrolone metabolites, a small error in the s.g. can be significant.

Reduction of error is an integral part of all analytical work, and the amount of the error associated with each result must be calculated and stated. If the error introduced is too large, the result must be rejected. The analyst who does not diligently and carefully follow correct procedures can place no trust in the results obtained and should redo the analysis.

Based on the evidence presented to the arbitration panel, Merlene could have been exonerated on various grounds. The one stated, however, allowed the IAAF to save face. Hence, even though the panel of arbitrators did the right thing in the end, several fundamental questions remain to be answered about the Federation’s anti-doping programme.

Special commendations to those who supported Merlene during this difficult time, with honourable mention going to the JAAA which showed moral courage by not rushing to judgment in order to please its parent organization the IAAF.

Dr Barbara Carby (Red Hills P O, Kingston, Jamaica)

Athletics-Ottey fails to impress on reappearance

By Luke Baker

NUORO, Sardinia, July 12

Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey rejoined the international athletics fold on Wednesday, almost a year after failing a drugs test, but her form failed to impress 10 weeks ahead of the Olympics.

At a local meeting in the small town of Nuoro, tucked away in the mountains of central Sardinia, Ottey blew away the unrecognised opposition, but still ran home in only 11.42 seconds, far outside what she was hoping to achieve.

``Its too cold, I was kind of hoping the weather would be better,'' she said after the race.

Sardinia is normally warm at this time of year, and Nuoro is at a reasonable altitude of 500 metres, conditions Ottey said she was hoping would contribute to a run somewhere around 11.20, but the weather was unseasonably cold and blustery.

``Mentally, I didn't want a big meet, and there aren't too many races elsewhere, but I thought conditions would be better,'' she added.

The time was way outside her personal best of 10.74, a benchmark she is hoping to better at the Olympics - her last major competition.

``I've already achieved my goals over the past 20 years. It's going to be time to give it a rest,'' she said.

Ottey, now 40, has been around at the top of athletics since the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when she took a bronze medal in the 200 metres, but a year ago she tested positive for the controversial anabolic steroid nandrolone and was banned.

The winner of 34 medals in major international championships, including seven Olympics and a record 14 in world championships, she denied ever knowingly taking the drug.

PANEL RULING

An International Amateur Athletic Federation arbitration panel ruled on July 3 that ``there were not the grounds to maintain her suspension from competition,'' ending the ban with immediate effect.

The suspension came after a meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland in July last year, when Ottey ran 10.97 in the 100 metres and 22.40 in the 200 metres.

With the enquiry behind her, Ottey is hoping to get her mind completely focused on the build up to Sydney, but she said the year-long saga had had a psychological impact.

``It's been tough, and mentally it was difficult to focus, but now I have some time before the Olympics and I'm going to train hard and have a try,'' she said.

``I'm keen just to run, just to get back in the race,'' she added.

Coach Slovenian Srdjan Djordjevic said he was disappointed with Wednesday's race, but felt there was still time to get it right before September. He said Ottey was likely to compete in races either in Stockholm or Zurich during August, following the Jamaican Olympic trials on July 21-22.

``There's no doubt she can run faster, but it needs to be warmer. I think if the conditions are right, she can be fast enough for something under 10.90,'' he said.

NUORO, Sardinia

Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey rejoined the international athletics fold on Wednesday, almost a year after failing a drugs test, but her form failed to impress 10 weeks ahead of the Olympics.

At a local meeting in the small town of Nuoro, tucked away in the mountains of central Sardinia, Ottey blew away the unrecognized opposition, but still ran home in only 11.42 seconds, far outside what she was hoping to achieve.

"Its too cold, I was kind of hoping the weather would be better," she said after the race.

Sardinia is normally warm at this time of year, and Nuoro is at a reasonable altitude of 500 meters, conditions Ottey said she was hoping would contribute to a run somewhere around 11.20, but the weather was unseasonably cold and blustery.

"Mentally, I didn't want a big meet, and there aren't too many races elsewhere, but I thought conditions would be better," she added.

The time was way outside her personal best of 10.74, a benchmark she is hoping to better at the Olympics -- her last major competition.

"I've already achieved my goals over the past 20 years. It's going to be time to give it a rest," she said.

Ottey, now 40, has been around at the top of athletics since the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when she took a bronze medal in the 200 meters, but a year ago she tested positive for the controversial anabolic steroid nandrolone and was banned.

The winner of 34 medals in major international championships, including seven Olympics and a record 14 in world championships, she denied ever knowingly taking the drug.

An International Amateur Athletic Federation arbitration panel ruled on July 3 that "there were not the grounds to maintain her suspension from competition," ending the ban with immediate effect.

The suspension came after a meeting in Lucerne, Switzerland in July last year, when Ottey ran 10.97 in the 100 meters and 22.40 in the 200 meters.

With the inquiry behind her, Ottey is hoping to get her mind completely focused on the build up to Sydney, but she said the year-long saga had had a psychological impact.

"It's been tough, and mentally it was difficult to focus, but now I have some time before the Olympics and I'm going to train hard and have a try," she said.

"I'm keen just to run, just to get back in the race," she added.

Coach Slovenian Srdjan Djordjevic said he was disappointed with Wednesday's race, but felt there was still time to get it right before September. He said Ottey was likely to compete in races either in Stockholm or Zurich during August, following the Jamaican Olympic trials on July 21-22.

"There's no doubt she can run faster, but it needs to be warmer. I think if the conditions are right, she can be fast enough for something under 10.90,"

AFP's report on her first race in Italy

Merlene Ottey returns to competition
12 July 2000 - Nuoro, Sardinia

Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey returned to competition Wednesday by winning the 100 meters in a regional meet on this Italian island.

''It felt good to get started again,'' the 40-year-old five-time Olympian said moments after the race. ''My goal now is to get to Sydney and reach 20 years of Olympics.''

Ottey, a double silver medallist at the 1996 Games, had no problem cruising to the win in Sardinia on Wednesday over a field of regional runners, winning in a relatively slow time of 11.42 seconds under chilly conditions.

Ottey said the past week has been a whirlwind, since learning of her immediate reinstatement. ''I was so excited, it was one of the best pieces of news of my life,'' Ottey said. ''Now I have to step up my training and focus on the mental element.''

Her next competition will be the Jamaican national championship, July 20-22 where she will run the 100 and 200 meters, seeking to qualify for her sixth Olympic Games.

Ottey has won 34 individual medals in major international championships and is a former world 200-meter champion.

The latest by  Reuters

LJUBLJANA, July 11

Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey, who was cleared to run a week ago after failing a drug test, will make her comeback at a meeting in Sardinia on Wednesday, her coach Srdjan Djordjevic said on Monday.

"She needs to start competing to regain feeling and increase her form with competition," Djordjevic told Reuters.

Ottey, now 40, has been competing at the highest level for two decades and won two silver medals in the sprints at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The Sydney Olympics will mark her last major competition.

She was banned after testing positive for the controversial steroid nandrolone last July.

She denied ever knowingly taking the drug and an International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) arbitration panel ruled a week ago that "there were not the grounds to maintain her suspension from competition," ending it with immediate effect.

Ottey is presently training in Ljubljana and hopes to run below her personal best of 10.74 seconds at the Olympics.

"At present she is still well below her best form but she is training well and we have another 74 days before her Olympic appearance," said Djordjevic.

After the Sardinia meeting she will compete in the Jamaican Olympic trials on July 21-22 where she said she expected to finish in the top three

Ottey says she'll be faster than ever

LJUBLJANA

Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey, who was cleared to run on Monday after failing a drugs test, said on Wednesday she hoped to run faster than ever at this year's Sydney Olympics.

"I have not been competing for a year and I do not know what to expect. But I hope to run faster than ever, below my personal best of 10.74 [seconds]," Ottey told Reuters.

Ottey, now 40, has been competing at the highest level for two decades and won two silver medals in the sprints at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Sydney will mark her last major competition.

Asked whether she expected to get another Olympic medal, she said: "It's possible."

Ottey was banned after testing positive for the controversial steroid nandrolone last July.

She denied ever knowingly taking the drug and an International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) arbitration panel ruled on Monday that "there were not the grounds to maintain her suspension from competition," ending it with immediate effect.

"I was under stress because of the case and was not training a 100 percent ... but I am not worried about the time limit, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain," she said.

She said she would let her manager look at the possibility of getting damages for the suspension, saying her mind was now on training.

"I'm very relieved it is finally over after one year of total stress. I need to mentally and physically prepare. I do not think I will be in such a good shape for my first run but I think I will be ready for the Olympics," she said.

Ottey will attend the Jamaican Olympic trials on July 21 and 22 where she said she expected to finish in the top three.

She is presently training with her Slovenian coach Srdjan Djordjevic in Ljubljana.

"I am very satisfied with training here and with the warm weather," she said.

Former world sprint champion's drug ban overturned

MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP)

Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey had her two-year ban for steroid use lifted Monday after an international track panel said the lab improperly tested her urine sample.

The decision meant the former world champion and Olympic silver medallist was immediately eligible to compete.

The IAAF, track and field's world governing body, said in a statement that its three-man arbitration panel had decided after a hearing last month "there were not the grounds to maintain the suspension of Merlene Ottey from competition."

"Accordingly, the suspension ... ended with immediate effect," the statement said.

The IAAF said the panel found fault with the testing laboratory, which "had not taken into sufficient account factors regarding the specific gravity of the sample which as a result did not exceed the IOC (International Olympic Committee) recommended reporting threshold."

Monday's ruling was the second issued by the IAAF in a week in a drug case involving a prominent athlete. Last week, it upheld the two-year suspension of Javier Sotomayor of Cuba, the only high jumper to clear 8 feet, for cocaine use. That decision appeared to knock Sotomayor out of September's Olympics in Sydney.

Ottey, winner of 34 individual medals in major international championships, hopes to compete in the Sydney Olympics at 40.

Ottey, a former world 200-meter champion, runner-up in the 100 and 200 at the 1996 Olympics and one of the most decorated athletes in the sport, tested positive for the steroid nandrolone at a meet in Switzerland in July 1999. She denied taking the drug and was cleared by the Jamaican federation.

The IAAF refused to accept the Jamaicans' ruling and sent her case to its arbitration panel, composed of Christoph Vedder of Germany, Monty Hacker of South Africa and James Murphy of the United States.

Nandrolone is a steroid that is easily detectable in standard drug tests. But there has been a spate of positive nandrolone cases around the world over the past year, prompting speculation that the drug is contained in nutritional supplements.

In March, the IAAF said it would conduct a research project to determine whether food supplements and herbal preparations can trigger positive tests for nandrolone and other banned substances. The project is being carried out in cooperation with UK Athletics, Britain's track governing body.

Nandrolone produced 343 positive tests in all sports around the world last year, according to official statistics.

Among the athletes embroiled in nandrolone cases is Linford Christie, the 1992 100-meter Olympic and world champion from Britain, who was suspended after testing positive for the steroid.

Earlier this month, the IAAF postponed Christie's hearing. It had wanted to hear the case against the 39-year-old between July 6 and July 9, but it couldn't agree on the dates with UK Athletics. A new date should be announced shortly.

The IAAF originally suspended Christie, but UK Athletics overruled the decision, and the case was sent to arbitration.

Hearings for two other Britons facing nandrolone charges, European 200-meter champion Doug Walker and hurdler Gary Cadogan, were postponed for the same reason.

Christie has retired from top competition, but Walker and Cadogan hope to compete in this year's Olympics.

Vedder, the panel chairman, said the case would be an important test for sports law regarding nandrolone.

News about Ottey's case at EUROSPORT

MONTE CARLO, July 3
Jamaican sprinter Merlene Ottey, who was banned after failing a drugs test last year, has been cleared to run in the Sydney Olympics.

An International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) arbitration panel ruled on Monday that "there were not the grounds to maintain her suspension from competition" and ended it with immediate effect. The IAAF said in a statement that the arbitration panel "considered that the testing laboratory had not taken into sufficient account factors regarding the specific gravity of the sample which as a result did not exceed the IOC recommended reporting threshold".

Ottey, the winner of 34 medals in major international championships including seven in the Olympics and a record 14 in world championships, tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone after a meeting in the Swiss city of Lucerne last July.

But Ottey has denied ever knowingly taking the drug and set out to clear her name so that she could compete in her final Olympics at the age of 40. She was cleared by the Jamaican Athletics Federation but the IAAF, athletics' governing body, was not satisfied with the decision and decided to refer the case to its arbitration panel.

Ottey appeared before the panel at the IAAF'S Monaco headquarters last month. Ottey's was the first of a recent rash of postive tests involving nandrolone to be dealt with by the IAAF. Former Olympic 100 metres champion Linford Christie will have to wait at least three weeks to have his positive drugs test considered by the panel. It was due to meet this week to consider the case of Christie and two other Britons, European 200 metres champion Doug Walker and 400 metres hurdler Gary Cadogan.

All three had tested positive for nandrolone and face two-year bans from competition if the panel decides they have committed a doping offence. Christie, who tested positive last year, has effectively retired from competition. IAAF spokesman Giorgio Reineri said the cases had been postponed because the arbitration panel had not received all the necessary documentation in time.

A brief transcription of what was published these days in our daily paper DELO - Ljubljana:

This is in brief & partly (most important statements) what Merlene's coach Mr. Srdjan Djordjevic told the journalist & sports reporter Vito Divac of Delo, Ljubljana:

According to recently published text in some English papers, Merlene's attorneys are about to demand some 15 million USD as a satisfaction for the damage caused to the athlete by the ban.

Mr. Zimmermann, Ottey's manager was not willing to comment the amount but added, that the procedure of getting any material satisfaction is likely to be as hard as had the ban withdrawal been.

Mr. Djordjevic, Ottey's coach in the past 2 years, however said, that the damage she had suffered while banned had been more of a psychological character and had caused "irreparable damage to Merlene's image. Anybody who knows her, knows how great had her input been to achieve the image she has in the world of sports. Part of it is most likely to mark her forever unless she does something really great to change that image.

Srdjan Djordjevic (by the way he has a University diploma in biology) among others explained the procedures they had to take to prove all the controversy of testing and proving nandrolone presence in human body. Besides all the controversy in testing the more disputable in Ottey's case was the procedure of urine analysis itself.

Djordjevic who played a very important role in one of the most controversial and suspicious "doping" cases lately, said he is more than happy now when all is over and he can finally concern of Merlene' training process solely (the same goes for Gregor Cankar and other athletes under his control). "It required a lot of my energy to be used to prove I was right and I'm more than happy I was!"