uhh wrote:
so if CERA wasn't available in 2005, and we have been able to test for EPO since 2000, then how was 2003-2005 "pretty nuts"?
Oh and then also, why have long distances peformances been "lackluster" since 2005 when CERA became available and no drug test was instituted?
Yeah very strange how the facts suggest the exact opposite of your argument.
No, he's pointing out the anomaly of performances over the past few seasons compared to the late 90's (no EPO test available) and the 2003-5 period, when athletes were running relatively faster times in the middle and distance events.
Perhaps testing became more reliable after 2005, or perhaps athletes felt it was more likely they'd get caught, so stopped doing it as much.
Then you have the case of Lagat's false positive in 2003 and Marion Jones failing an A test then being exonerated with a -ve B test; before it emerges she was indeed doping and (in the evidence of Hunter & Conte) had taken EPO as far back as 2000.
This is an interesting link, claiming the EPO test is very unreliable.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080626100921.htmSo, maybe WADA/IOC are now using much more sophisticated testing procedures, and previous ones just didn't pick up on all those taking "any" form of EPO.
I can't believe that Ramzi only started using drugs (whatever type) prior to Beijing. Many people on various message boards have cast their suspicions about him as far back as 2004/5. So if he was taking EPO prior to 2008, why wasn't he caught if the test is meant to have been effective from late 2000?
Possible answers:-
1) The test is (or was) more unreliable than WADA claimed (see Lagat & Jones test results)
2) There is corruption somewhere along the line. (see Lagat & Jones test results!)