February 12, 2010 (Vancouver, BC) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced on February 11 that 30 athletes tested positive in pre-Games testing outside of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. No athletes have tested positive while in Vancouver so far. WADA president John Fahey of Australia commented, “We are getting better as the years go by. Through a number of methods, we are smarter than we were a year ago.”
It was Nordic skier Beckie Scott who led the fight after the 2002 Salt Lake City Games for an independent organization that would test athletes outside of competition. Scott won a bronze in the 10km pursuit, but two years later moved up to take the gold after it was found that the Russian skiers ahead of her had tested positive in previous doping tests. WADA was a result of Scott’s determined work to clean up sport.
Fahey added that the pre-Game tests were good because, “It’s weeding out the cheats. It’s ensuring that clean athletes from around the world, are not going to be lining up next to or competing against someone who’s seeking or taking an advantage in an illegal manner. It means there are 30 less cheats competing in Vancouver.”
The tests took place over the months leading into the Games, but Fahey says WADA will not release the names of athletes until “all avenues of appeal are exhausted. To do so would be outside the rules of our charter.” Athletes have the right to have a B sample tested as well before they are suspended from their sport. After this, they can appeal WADA’s findings at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland or in civil court.
These Games will be the first to have the “Independent Observer Program” implemented. The program is independent of WADA and the IOC. Observers ensure that protocols and procedures are being complied with. As the lives of athletes are more and more scrutinized by WADA and other sport organizations, they have complained that their privacy rights are being infringed upon. The European Athletes Association has noted that athletes are monitored more rigorously than are pedophiles.