NDTL third among labs in adverse findings percentage

WADA testing figures 2014 report (part 2)

New Delhi was third among the laboratories for percentage of adverse analytical findings with 160 (2.13%) behind Mexico City (133 at 3.26%) and Barcelona (57 at 2.22%). (NDTL’s own figures were 162 AAFs from 7520 samples). In terms of total number of AAFs, Cologne, Germany, was first with 179. Only Paris, with 111, crossed the hundred mark.

It may be noted here that like in the past, NDTL also tested samples from abroad. In 2014 this number came to 3054 including two blood samples.

As per WADA’s figures, the New Delhi lab analyzed 4248 in-competition urine samples, 2962 out-of-competition samples, 14 in-competition blood samples and 287 out-of-competition blood samples. (The adverse analytical findings for tests conducted by the Indian NADA are given in the latter part of this piece.)

Among sports disciplines, athletics topped the charts in terms of AAFs with 257, with cycling coming second with 220. Weightlifting, which was No. 1 in 2013, had 169 this time while football had 140. Aquatics was surprisingly low at 64.

Anabolic agents continued to lead the substances lists with 1479 testing positive for this class of drugs, amounting to 48 per cent. It was down from its perch of 63 per cent (3320) from 2013, however. Stimulants followed next with 474 (15%, an increase of 5% from 2013), with diuretics third with 389 (13% up from 7.5% in 2013).

Stanozolol still in demand!

Within the class of substances, stanozolol, the old-fashioned steroid made famous by Canadian Ben Johnson in Seoul Olympics, replaced T/E ratio (testosterone-epitestosterone) as the No. 1 among steroids. Stanozlol was found in 239 cases, accounting for 20% within the drug class.

Testosterone (T/E ratio) clearly looks to be losing its appeal among dope cheats as could be gauged from the 56 cases (5%) in 2014 compared to 1895 (59.6%) in 2013. One explanation for the lesser numbers could be the inability of the IRMS (isotope ratio measurement spectrometer) analysis to conclusively prove exogenous use of steroids in certain cases.

There were 48 such cases (which may also have included other endogenous steroids like nandralone) apart from 261 cases (78%), the largest percentage, where higher levels of T/E ratios were reported under atypical findings.

New Delhi once again had a high percentage of success with its IRMS testing (34%) that came behind a very high percentage (83) of the Sydney lab which tested only six samples. NDTL had a 77.8% ‘positive’ in IRMS testing in 2013. IRMS is mainly used to confirm exogenous administration of endogenous steroids.

MHA tops again

Among stimulants, methylhexaneamine (MHA) proved to be the favourite among athletes just as in 2013, with 76 (16%) testing positive for the substance made famous in India through 11 cases that dragged on for four years. MHA topped with 169 (31.9%) in 2013. Methylphenidate (71) and amphetamine (70) followed MHA in a close race among stimulants.

The leaders

Among the testing authority, NADA India ranked 31st in terms of percentage of adverse analytical findings with 99 (2.3%) out of 4340 samples including blood samples. But this list included many countries that did not even reach three digits in samples tested.

Among those NADOs that tested more than 1000 samples during 2014, and turned in increased percentages of adverse findings, India was fifth, behind NADO Flanders (Belgium)with 91 (3.8%) from 2400 samples, Mexico City (67 from 1947 at 3.4%), South Africa (55 from 1854 at 3.0%) and Turkey (65 from 2392 at 2.7%).

China (13180 samples), Russia (12556), Germany (9073), France (7434) and USA (7167) were among the NADOs that did the maximum number of tests.

The fact that a country like Ukraine did just two samples through its NADO in 2014, turning up one positive, is an eye-opener notwithstanding the conflict in that country. It was in keeping with the trend shown the previous year.

Even as anti-doping authorities bring in more sophisticated and foolproof tests and methods to catch the cheats, the latter seem to be once again moving ahead, perhaps with the connivance of the administrators as the recent Russian revelations through the German television channel expose alleged. 

The latest admission by WADA Director-General David Howman that one in 10 athletes could be doping provides a grim picture of the current scene. As long as ‘medals’ alone matter for individuals and countries, the war against doping in sports may never be won.

 (concluded)