Sporting World Rocked by Database of Doping Champions

A database of doping test results leaked by a whistle-blower reveal that one third of medals at the Olympics and World Championships held in the 21st century/this century were awarded to athletes with suspicious test results.

A database of 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes who participated in the Olympics and World Championships held between 2001 and 2012 show that 146, or one third, of medals for endurance events were won by athletes who recorded suspicious test results, according to an expert analysis of a database of test results held by the International Association of Athletics Federations [IAAF], which was leaked by a whistleblower. 

According to a review of the database carried out by top anti-doping experts, more than 800 athletes named in the files recorded dubious blood test results which the experts described as "highly suggestive of doping or at the very least abnormal." 

Doping expert Michael Ashenden, who reviewed the data, said that athletics is in "the same diabolical position today that professional cycling was in 20 years ago," while fellow expert Robin Parisotto said that "athletes appear to have doped with impunity," and slammed the IAAF for allowing doping to become so widespread.

The World Anti-Doping Agency said it was "very disturbed" by the allegations, which "require swift and close scrutiny." 

According to the experts, athletes are increasingly using doping methods such as blood transfusions and micro-doses of EPO, or erythropoietin, to stimulate the creation of new red blood cells. An injection of blood-boosting EPO, which is used to treat conditions such as anemia or renal failure, is only detectable in urine or blood for a short window of time.

The analysis of the database revealed that at the last Summer Olympic Games held in London in 2012, ten medals were won by athletes who had received suspicious test results.

"In one event the entire podium was comprised of athletes, who in my opinion had most probably doped at some point in their career," said Ashenden. 

Though the damaging revelations cast a cloud of suspicion over international athletics/on many top athletes, the database reveals that some track stars such as Mo Farah, the current Olympic, World and European champion in the 5000 and 10,000 meter races, and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, the fastest person ever, recorded no abnormal test results.