Sigh! Our sport, among many others, is awash in dope

WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) to target drug suppliers. From Sports Illustrated:

• ... Howman praised Operation Gear Grinder, in which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in 2005 shut down eight companies illegally producing anabolic steroids in Mexico. The DEA has since been working with WADA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Howman said. [Link]

From a link I found on, Timed Finals, to The Daily Telegraph which mentioned that Australian swimmers have be warned about some "fishy" levels of testosterone in their bodies:

• In a significant development in the Ian Thorpe drug investigation, The Saturday Daily Telegraph has learned the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency issued warnings to star athletes over high testosterone levels. [Link]

This article breaks down how the Conte/BALCO steroid ring was broken up with a reference to, Matt Biondi, who NEVER doped, but endorsed BALCO in the 1980's after taking their magnesium supplements only. His endorsement brought early fame to the group who later used his endorsement for credibility concerns.

In the 1990's BALCO morphed into a de facto steroid ring hiring a chemist back east to create a steroid called the "The Clear" which was undetectable till a syringe was found and sent to WADA so the chemical therein could be cataloged and deciphered.

• Moriarity traces the beginning of the end for BALCO to August 2002 when cyclist Tammy Thomas was busted with so much extra testosterone racing around in her system that she had a 5 o'clock shadow, a hint of an Adam's apple and chest hair.

• But what was really surprising was the presence in her test of a steroid called norbolethone, which was not then being marketed by legitimate commercial labs. [Link]

An article about Ian Thorpe controversy from FOX News Australia and a direct quote from Dick Pound, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency regarding Chinese testing:

• Thorpe has been asked for a "please explain" by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority on abnormal levels of testosterone after a sample taken 12 months ago. ...

• "In Australia, which has 20 million inhabitants, they did 8000 tests during 2005 and China did about the same number," Pound said. "Proportionately, our view was that was not adequate on the part of the Chinese." [Link]

*The pictue above is a model of a testosterone molecule

From Timed Finals: Inge de Bruijn Officially Retires From Swimming

Inge de Bruijn or Inky Retires. :-( What a loss, what a career and she never tested positive. I never thought she was a dirty swimmer either but American Olympian, Amy Van Dyken, six-time gold medalist for various freestyle endeavors did.

From Swim info: “… Amy Van Dyken gracelessly evoked the question; [steroids], when she spit [a mouthful of water] into De Bruijn’s lane before the semifinals of the 50 and commented after Inky set a world record: 'If I were a man, I could swim that fast.' …” [Whoa, how crass, huh?]

Inge or Inky had no steroid bulk whatsoever and she never tested positive at any Olympics including Athens 2004 where testing was both thorough and extensive.

How ironic that it was Barry Bonds and Amy Van Dyken who testified before the grand jury in the Victor Conte/Balco steroid distribution scandal but Inky has never been summons or penalized.

From SFGate.com: “…Through Romanowski, Conte also gained access to athletes from other sports, such as six-time Olympic gold medalist Amy Van Dyken, who once described herself as “the Bill Romanowski of the swimming world,” and 1996 Olympic gold-medal-winning sprinter Chryste Gaines of San Leandro, a Stanford graduate who last year was charged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency with a BALCO- related doping offense. …"

Check out the announcement on Timed Finals: [Link]
Check out this wiki link for a run down on Inky's accomplishments: [Link]