MY QUESTIONS TO THE WADA
Pittsburgh, PA– Since the proposed Manny Pacquiao-Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. bout was to occur in Nevada, and the Nevada State Athletic Commission by rule forbids the use of any performance-enhancing drugs on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s )WADA) “Prohibited List,” and since the unfounded allegations against Pacquiao to date have mostly involved speculation about EPO or Human Growth Hormone (HGH) – two drugs on that list – I contacted WADA with the following questions:
• Will urine testing suffice in detecting the drugs on your prohibited list, and specifically HGH and EPO?
• Is there a preferred type of testing – urine or blood – and why?
• Is random testing necessary? If so, how frequently, and how close to the bout can they comfortably stop testing?
THE WADA’S RESPONSE
WADA’s Director General David Howman responded as follows:
“WADA is not involved in the situation you are referring to, which falls under the jurisdiction of organizations that are not signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) – the document harmonizing global anti-doping rules.
“WADA strongly recommends the adoption of the Code by the organizations governing boxing worldwide. AIBA has adopted and implemented the Code, as more than 675 sports organizations around the world have done. The Code provides rigorous and transparent anti-doping procedures that sports and athletes who have nothing to hide should welcome.
“Among other provisions, the Code makes out-of-competition testing mandatory for signatories. Given that out-of-competition tests can be conducted anytime, anywhere, and without notice to athletes, they are considered the most effective means of detection and deterrence of doping and are an important step in strengthening athlete and public confidence in doping-free sport.
“A number of substances and methods banned by WADA’s List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, including hGH, are currently only detectable through blood testing.”
WADA HAS LINKS ABOUT HGH & EPO
Senior Manager of Media Relations Frederic Donze suggested the following links at their site for Q&As on HGH and EPO:
http://www.wada-ama.org/en/Resources1/Q-and-A/Q-A-EPO-Detection/
http://www.wada-ama.org/en/Resources1/Q-and-A/Q-A-Human-Growth-Hormone/
You can also find the World Anti-Doping Code and related International Standards and Guidelines at http://www.wada-ama.org/en/World-Anti-Doping-Program/Sports-and-Anti-Doping-Organizations/The-Code/.
Brian Gorman