According to the chairman of the Commission Against Doping in Sport, Jerzy Smorawiński, there is a temptation to use the EPO in endurance disciplines. According to him, it is rather impossible to use this drug unknowingly.
In recent days, three Poles have been caught using the EPO. On Wednesday, it turned out that the ski runner Kornelia Marek had a positive anti-doping test during the Olympics in Vancouver, where she took 11th place over a distance of 30 km and was sixth in the 4 × 5 km relay.
On Thursday, the Polish Cycling Association informed about more athletes suspected of using the EPO. The youth world champion in cross-country cycling Paweł Szczepaniak and his younger brother, world vice-champion in this category – Kacper, had positive anti-doping tests.
There is a huge temptation to use EPO in endurance disciplines. It is one of the substances that has a real impact on oxygen transfer. There is much better muscle oxygenation, and thus the exercise capacity is significantly improved – explained Prof. dr hab. Smorawiński, specialist in the field of sports medicine.
In his opinion, in the case of EPO, there is no question of unconscious use. EPO is usually administered intravenously. It is not a powder that can be put into someone’s food or dissolved in a drink. It is difficult to even resort to a similar translation, which is not accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agency anyway. At the moment, according to the code, the athlete is fully responsible for what is in his body. He needs to be educated and know what to eat, he said.
As Smorawiński explained, the main disciplinary sanction for the use of erythropoietin is a two-year disqualification.
In addition, the athlete is deprived of any scholarship benefits, any external help. These are serious consequences – the player may continue to train, but he must invest in himself – he emphasized.
He also added that players caught doping have the right to defense. However, according to him, the use of erythropoietin almost to zero excludes the chances of being cleared.
Every player has the right to defense. He can use every opportunity – the first such act of defense is the execution of sample B. A small part of the players raise their hands up, admit it immediately and do not even request to test sample B. There is also the possibility of arbitration, but if the use of erythropoietin is documented, it doesn’t really make sense. With this preparation, it is difficult to believe in the innocence of the athlete, in the case of other doping, you can still think about it – he added.
Smorawiński believes that the detection of doping in Marek and the Szczepaniak brothers at the same time is a mere coincidence.
I would not link these cases. These are two different, distant disciplines, but on the other hand, eager to apply EPO. Another thing bothers me – I don’t remember Polish athletes using EPO. As far as I can remember, our players were punished for steroids, amphetamines, male hormones and even marijuana. But erythropoietin has yet to come. I don’t know if we are dealing with any new opening, but it gives us a lot to think about. This is a disturbing signal – summed up Smorawiński. (PAP)