Coe for more independence in dope testing
NEW DELHI: Dutee Chand may have shown the way for athletes with hyperandrogenism (a condition characterised by excessive levels of androgens in the body), but quick-fix solutions are nowhere in sight to the complex issue.
On his maiden official trip since taking over as president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in August, Sebastian Coe, while taking a sympathetic view, said there were no “swift and easy answers”.
After being banned by the international body from competing in the female category, Dutee approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In a historic judgement in July, the court declared as void the international federation’s rules, thus restoring Dutee’s right to compete. Coe shared that talks were on with the medical commission but again stressed it wasn’t an easy path.
The leading light of Britain’s golden age of middle-distance running in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the only man to successfully defend the Olympic 1,500m title, came to power riding on, among other issues, his determination to strengthen anti-doping measures. And on Monday, Coe stayed firm. Placing India in his first list of countries to visit was a promise he made to himself to honour his Indian roots — his grandfather was Indian and his mother lived here till she turned 10. On the work front, strengthening (anti-doping) mechanisms is among the “five-six ambitions in the first 100 days”.
Coe admitted t hat g aps remained between testing and handing of sentences in case of a positive sample, but hastened to add that it was so as “athletes’ careers were at stake”.
INDEPENDENT TESTING The new IAAF chief would like more independence in testing. This could entail “relieving the federations of some responsibility and involving some international help”. Lest he be misconstrued, “the work of national anti-doping agencies remains important” was stressed upon.
Cases have increased, but he was certain it wasn’t “uniquely a track and field issue”. In fact “we test more than any other sport,” he claimed. Testing would only get rigorous as he was ready to face the notoriety of a positive case rather than the world body being accused of “sitting on its hands”. Shooting off the stat that Usain Bolt stood as the world’s most tested athlete in any sport, Coe said the WADA and the IAAF ethics commission were looking into the string of cases that have emerged in recent times, especially at the Beijing World Championships in August.