FIS Press relase:
Torino 2006: Eight start prohibitions issued due to too high haemoglobin values registered in FIS pre-Olympic testing
Pragelato, 9 th Feb, 2006/ -- In the course of the pre-competition blood testing carried out by FIS in Torino whereby all Cross-Country and Nordic Combined Athletes will be tested prior to their first competition at the Olympic Winter Games, the following athletes have today been issued with a start prohibition for five consecutive days due to too high haemoglobin values:
Sean Crooks (CAN), male
Sergey Dalidovich (BLR), male
Jean Marc Gaillard (FRA), male
Aleksandr Latzukin (BLR), male
Natalia Matveeva (RUS), female
Kikkan Randall (USA), female
Evi Sachenbacher (GER), female
Leif Zimmermann (USA), male
This prohibition from participating in the competition(s) is not a sanction, but is considered to serve to protect the health of the Athlete. Consequently, no disciplinary measures will be taken.
In the two days of testing, 224 Athletes have been tested. The total number of Cross-Country and Nordic Combined Athletes participating in the XX Olympic Winter Games is 330 and 63, respectively.
A start prohibition results from the process that is defined in the Article B.4.2 of the Procedural Guidelines to the FIS Anti-Doping Rules: “If an Athlete shows a haemoglobin value that is equal to or exceeds the values of 16.0 g/dl for ladies and 17.0 g/dl for men after two consecutive measurements, the Athlete will be notified by the representative of the Jury that he/she is not allowed to start any competitions for five consecutive days, including the day on which the test took place: e.g. if the blood test takes place on Monday the Athlete will not be permitted to start again until Saturday (and then only subject to the results of a new blood test, as defined in Article B.4.5).”
In cases where Athletes have natural haemoglobin values that exceed the limits of 16.0 g/dl for ladies and 17.0 g/dl for men, they are required to provide certification for review by a specialist appointed by the FIS before the start of each season, respectively their first competition. This certification must come from an officially recognised Haematological Department and contain the Athlete’s full history and haematological profile from an early age in life.
For the 2005/2006 season, six athletes have been granted a dispensation from the FIS Hb rule for the entire season, whilst six additional athletes have been granted a temporary dispensation valid for a defined period of time including the Olympic Winter Games.
To download a copy of the FIS Procedural Guidelines 2005/2006 to the FIS Anti-Doping Rules, please go to: http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/fis-proceduralguidelines20052006.pdf
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PRAGELATO, Italy (Feb. 11) -- Two U.S. Olympic cross country skiers were among eight athletes who will not be permitted to participate in competitions for five days as a result of high hemoglobin levels in testing conducted by the International Ski Federation (FIS). The no-start rule is a health and safety provision, and not a doping violation. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) and Leif Zimmerman (Bozeman, MT) were among eight athletes who tested above the permitted level.
The athletes will be eligible for competition in five days from the tests, which were administered on Feb. 8, pending a successful re-test. According to the FIS statement, "This prohibition from participating in the competition(s) is not a sanction, but is considered to serve to protect the health of the Athlete. Consequently, no disciplinary measures will be taken."
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Team Today release:
First of all Team Today is not the U.S. Ski Team and so (as a reminder) this site and the statement(s) posted here are not from or sanctioned by the U.S. Ski Team.
We do not dope, take illegal drugs, use illegal methods or in any way cheat - ever. If there is any more explicit way to say that, then I will. We are clean. %100.
As stated above this is not a positive test.
There have been some releases from various places which do not tell the story well or correctly - including the AP release (by John Pye). First, all the members of the team were tested. Second none of these athletes were slated to race this Sunday anyway.