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Five players of Mexico?s national soccer team were suspended early this month when they tested positive for the steroid Clenbuterol. Mexican sports officials were in disbelief that the number of positive test is huge. The soccer team played well in the start of the Gold Cup but may lose its bid to get another championship title because of the incident.
A positive test result for Clenbuterol also led to the short-lived jubilation of cyclist Alberto Contador when he won the Tour de France last year. Contador and the five Mexican soccer players all argue that they are not doping. Instead, they blamed the meat they ingested that allegedly contained the steroid clenbuterol.
Sports Federation Supports Claims of Accidental Doping
Contador fought for his suspension and was later cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation. However, the World Anti-doping Agency and the International Cycling Federation appealed the case of the professional cyclist at the Court of Arbitration in Sports. These agencies contend that steroid contamination claims should not be permitted in sports.
The Mexican Soccer Federation also believes that the case of 5 El Tri soccer players could be blamed to meat contamination. Though the players were temporarily suspended pending further investigation, the federation could later acquit these players.
Recent Cases Prompted WADA to Review Clenbuterol Rules
The Tri City Herald recently reported that the officials of WADA will review the policies on clenbuterol use. WADA science director Olivier Rabin said that based on his personal review of several clenbuterol cases, he believes that further discussion with other anti-doping experts is necessary.
Right now, the cases of athletes caught with clenbuterol in their system are handled on a case to case basis. This is the reason why many professional athletes appeal their positive test. Clenbuterol is a steroid originally used for livestock particularly in beef production. The rampant use of Clenbuterol in livestock was documented in Mexico and China. Just recently, Germany?s anti doping agency issued warning to its traveling athletes to avoid eating meat from Mexico because it may result to a positive test.
However, this steroid is also widely available on steroid online stores and a popular steroid to bodybuilders and professional athletes. Clenbuterol aids in the development of leaner muscles.
Changes in the Threshold Level
According to Rabin, they will be deliberating in their next meeting whether to change the current threshold for clenbuterol. Any trace of this steroid in the system of the athlete is already considered doping based on the current WADA rules. A possible increase in the value of clenbuterol might be recommended to avoid athletes making excuses.
If the test result of an athlete goes above the threshold level, it will be immediately considered as doping while results below the specified level would result to further investigation. However, these changes will need the approval of the WADA Board. Once approved, the implementation will only commence on 2013 where changes in the WADA Code will occur.
How to Avoid Steroids from Meat
Rabin said that organizers can help athletes avoid accidental ingestion of banned substances like clenbuterol. This was already implemented in China during the 2008 Beijing Olympics where meats were checked before it was given to athletes. ?Things went extremely well because they have taken appropriate measures to make sure that the food was well controlled before it was given to the athletes,? said Rabin ?So there are ways and means to prevent this kind of risk of meat contamination,? Rabin added.
A positive test result for Clenbuterol also led to the short-lived jubilation of cyclist Alberto Contador when he won the Tour de France last year. Contador and the five Mexican soccer players all argue that they are not doping. Instead, they blamed the meat they ingested that allegedly contained the steroid clenbuterol.
Sports Federation Supports Claims of Accidental Doping
Contador fought for his suspension and was later cleared by the Spanish Cycling Federation. However, the World Anti-doping Agency and the International Cycling Federation appealed the case of the professional cyclist at the Court of Arbitration in Sports. These agencies contend that steroid contamination claims should not be permitted in sports.
The Mexican Soccer Federation also believes that the case of 5 El Tri soccer players could be blamed to meat contamination. Though the players were temporarily suspended pending further investigation, the federation could later acquit these players.
Recent Cases Prompted WADA to Review Clenbuterol Rules
The Tri City Herald recently reported that the officials of WADA will review the policies on clenbuterol use. WADA science director Olivier Rabin said that based on his personal review of several clenbuterol cases, he believes that further discussion with other anti-doping experts is necessary.
Right now, the cases of athletes caught with clenbuterol in their system are handled on a case to case basis. This is the reason why many professional athletes appeal their positive test. Clenbuterol is a steroid originally used for livestock particularly in beef production. The rampant use of Clenbuterol in livestock was documented in Mexico and China. Just recently, Germany?s anti doping agency issued warning to its traveling athletes to avoid eating meat from Mexico because it may result to a positive test.
However, this steroid is also widely available on steroid online stores and a popular steroid to bodybuilders and professional athletes. Clenbuterol aids in the development of leaner muscles.
Changes in the Threshold Level
According to Rabin, they will be deliberating in their next meeting whether to change the current threshold for clenbuterol. Any trace of this steroid in the system of the athlete is already considered doping based on the current WADA rules. A possible increase in the value of clenbuterol might be recommended to avoid athletes making excuses.
If the test result of an athlete goes above the threshold level, it will be immediately considered as doping while results below the specified level would result to further investigation. However, these changes will need the approval of the WADA Board. Once approved, the implementation will only commence on 2013 where changes in the WADA Code will occur.
How to Avoid Steroids from Meat
Rabin said that organizers can help athletes avoid accidental ingestion of banned substances like clenbuterol. This was already implemented in China during the 2008 Beijing Olympics where meats were checked before it was given to athletes. ?Things went extremely well because they have taken appropriate measures to make sure that the food was well controlled before it was given to the athletes,? said Rabin ?So there are ways and means to prevent this kind of risk of meat contamination,? Rabin added.