mauricemaher wrote:
Tom A. wrote:
AlexS wrote:
mauricemaher wrote:
I think if you look at AlexS previous post he alludes to the "chain of custody" etc when you collect samples...you sample, you have to test and follow pretty strict protocol. In Canada when they look at hiring DCO's they are looking for ex RCMP or law enforcement to be the handlers so to speak.
Not sure about Bio passport etc, he alludes to a lower standard. Not sure what that means but but I am guessing for Bio Passport they are not testing for substances…just looking for trends in blood values. So if its just blood values then perhaps a lower standard for the Lab.
So, my understanding is you can't collect without testing and following the 5-6 step process from notifying the athlete all the way to possible B sample and arbitration etc.
You can however increase the "threat" of collection, IE before KQ spots are allocated you could say everyone must report after for random sampling, IE only one test but your chances go from nil to 1 in 40 of getting caught…you could perhaps use something like this with USAC etc, before anyone gets on a podium they are corralled and picked at random.
Maurice
More race day testing is pretty useless as an anti doping measure.
It'll catch the odd unlucky
idiot, but not someone with sufficient IQ to make sure they are not glowing come race day.
Well...we ARE talking about people so dumb as to think that doping for masters/amateur racing is a good idea :-/
I was talking about the basic technical elements around testing, as I understand them to the best of my knowledge.
If you read some of the decisions then it is apparent that basically AG dopers are (generally) getting caught because they are either getting tipped off or perhaps because they are idiots or inherently reckless. They are rolling the dice on not getting tested. I don't think this generally happens with the same precision, resources and success as say US Postal or the Russian system.
The effectiveness of the USAC strategy has yet to unfold, we don't know how much money is being collected and we have no idea as to how (IC or targeted investigation) or when/where it will be implemented.
(EDIT: meant to respond to AlexS)
This is a first step,
Maurice
Even the threat of a 1/40 test of KQ recipients is better than zero. You don't even have to threaten with 1/40. At LP they might do 0/40, Louisville 0/40, Florida 0/40, but Tremblant 2/40. And you don't know in advance which race will have real testing or just the threat. And yes, only the "idiots" would get caught, but Nina Kraft was idiot enough to get nailed in competition at Kona, and I think there would be enough age group dopers who would either roll the dice Nina style, or get scared and not even bother doping. Or if they think they know they are glowing, not take the KQ slot.