The RUSADA (the equivalent of the USADA in Russia) has released a response to the claims of Anastasia Chaun, who was forced to withdraw from the World Championships that begin next week. It is believed that a routine blood-sampled for to add to Chaun’s “blood passport” is believed to have caused her thrombophlebitis, or an inflamation in the veins caused by a blood clot.
Despite initial reports, this is not believed to have been an actual drug test. Instead, this was part of the establishment of a “blood passport,” which is a program that has been very polarizing in the sporting community. In this program, a period of tests are used to establish baseline levels of certain chemicals in the blood. That makes it easier to identify possible performance-enhancing drug use when the levels of these chemicals spike unexpectedly and unexplainably. Russia has been one of the heaviest users of this program on its athletes, especially in those sports that it identifies as “high risk”.
The RUSADA insisted that they only employ highly trained medical professionals to take blood samples, but did not necessarily deny Chaun’s claim. They have committed to further investigaion of the matter.
The full RUSADA press release is posted below.
Date: 2011-07-19 13:39:40Blood testing is an integral part of effective doping-control. The International Standard for Testing, the WADA Guidelines for Blood Sample Collection, and the Russian Federation national legislation strictly regulate the blood testing procedure. For blood testing missions RUSADA appoints professional and educated specialists with no less than 5 years medical employment history, all manipulations are carried out in full compliance with the aforementioned rules and regulations. The sample collection materials we use are duly certified and have received official approval from WADA and IOC.
Blood testing program, as well as RUSADA general TDP, is based upon the doping risk assessment system developed by RUSADA for various sports. The testing policy pursued by RUSADA follows the relevant risk assessment which indicates the target sport, the target athletes and the target timeframe for doping controls. Swimming being a cyclic sport, rich in medals, falls into the high-doping-risk category, out-of-competition use of EPO and steroids being a testing priority. Thus, we carry out an intense doping-control program involving swimmers in the national team or nominated candidates for the Russian national teams.
“In regard to the case of Anastasia Chaun it should be said that along with most other leading athletes on the Russian Federation national teams lists she is both in the international and national RTPs, Anastasia has also been selected for the ABP Program implemented by RUSADA. Regular testing appears compulsory for the case, and RUSADA will carry on the policy of close supervision of the athletes in ‘high-risk’ sports targeting them for testing. RUSADA will conduct a thorough investigation following the statements by the athlete’s representatives of health trouble Anastasia suffered after the doping test. The outcomes of the investigation will be published on RUSADA website”, said Nikita Kamaev, the Executive Director of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.
RUSADA collected more than 8,000 blood samples over the years 2009-2010. More than 5,000 blood samples have been scheduled for 2011 for the purposes of both prohibited substances detection and ABP program involving in the first place athletes in the Russian national teams.
The information has been provided by RUSADA Press Service