Julkaisut

Washington Post

Lab System Aims to Stop Drug Test Cheating
Mar 8th – 12:37pm

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) – A German laboratory says it developed a system to catch athletes who switch or tamper with urine samples during drug tests. Top doping institutions in the country called the development promising.

A marker is put in a liquid given to athletes to drink before a test. When the sample is analyzed, it shows if the marker is missing, according to the head of the Staedtischen Koelner Kliniken.

“We‘re declaring this as foolproof and are certain of our statement after 10 years of research and more than 40,000 samples analyzed,” Ruprecht Keller said.

The system would end the need for athletes to be supervised when producing a specimen. About 30 minutes after taking the drink, athletes can take the test alone.

“Manipulation can be prevented,” said Hans Geyer, assistant director of Cologne‘s Center for Drug Research laboratory. “A big advantage is that it stops people from being ashamed” while being watched as they provide a urine sample, he added.

Geyer‘s laboratory, not connected to the one that developed the marking system, is one of two in Germany accredited to analyze athletes‘ samples.

Germany‘s anti-doping agency said it needs “more evaluation” before employing the system.

“But we‘re very open to the process,” NADA business manager Roland Augustin said.

The marking system has been tested for fi ve years at drug treatment centers and for the past year in German prisons.

The system also would be used to help companies and government agencies test employees for drugs. According to the lab, Germany‘s defense ministry and train company are among the institutions interested.

The Staedtischen Koelner Kliniken has patented the process and formed a company called Ruma to sell it.

(Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)