Marathon News - IAAF Reports No Positive Drug Tests During Osaka

Sep-21-2007

IAAF Reports No Positive Drug Tests During Osaka
by David Monti
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved

The International Association of Athletics Federations reported today that there were no positive drug test results stemming from a massive testing program carried out during their recently concluded World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan. However, there was one positive result fron an out-of-competition test executed at a team training camp.

"I am pleased to report that the testing programme in Osaka was the largest ever conducted by the IAAF with even more tests collected than we had initially planned," said IAAF president Lamine Diack in a statement circulated to the media. "I can confirm that we have found only one positive case from the testing in Japan."

Naman Keïta, a French sprinter, tested positive for the exogenous administration of testosterone or its metabolites following out-of-competition testing during a team training camp in Japan, the IAAF reported. This result has been confirmed by the B sample and the case will now be dealt with in accordance with IAAF rules and results management procedures.

In total, 1132 samples were collected both pre-competition and in-competition on a total of 976 individual athletes in connection with the championships. In addition, 82 athletes were tested during their team training camps in Japan as part of the ongoing IAAF out-of-competition testing program. During the championships themselves a total of 598 tests were conducted. Of these tests, 179 were urine tests for the detection of EPO, a further 103 were blood samples taken for the detection of blood transfusions, while the remaining 316 were standard urine tests.

The IAAF also reported that there would be an "aggressive testing plan" in place for the next 12 months in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics.