US athlete fails drug test – pulls out of Olympics

more than 6,000 samples expected over the course of the games. It seems that the influence of drugs, and the ferocity of drug screening procedures in place, have already begun. Sprinter Debbie Dunn recently withdrew from the U.S. Olympic team after failing a drug test during the selection trials last month. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency After trials on June 24 in Eugene, Oregon, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency informed her that a sample she gave contained an elevated testosterone/epitestosterone level. Artificial testosterone can be used to enhance performance by growing muscle. “While I work with Usada to resolve this matter, I am withdrawing from my relay pool position for the 2012 Olympic Games,” Dunn said. “I do not want any issue like this to distract from my teammates’ focus for the biggest meet of their lives. I wish Team USA best in London as I work toward resolving this matter.” The testosterone/epitestosterone, or T/E, ratio is used to check whether the naturally occurring substances are within normal limits. Usada is testing a second urine sample, Travis Tygart, chief executive officer of the Colorado Springs, Colorado-based organization, said in a statement. “Usada appreciates Ms. Dunn voluntarily removing herself from the Olympic team while the full facts surrounding her elevated T/E ratio and adverse carbon isotope ratio analysis are evaluated,” Tygart said. “As in all cases all athletes are innocent until and unless proven otherwise.” Dunn was the world indoor champion in the 400 meters in 2010, when she was also the U.S. outdoor champion. She would have been competing in her first Olympics. Thorough screening procedures Over the course of the games, the scientists will be tasked with analysing more than 6200 samples for as many as 400 banned substances across a range of pharmacological categories. Perhaps the toughest challenge is the rapid turnaround time required, with the majority of negative results set to take less than 24 hours to be announced.]]>