Some had given mobile numbers as contact numbers and screened calls to avoid testing. EPO, the drug at the heart of the Tour de France doping scandal in 1998, is believed to be widely used by athletes in endurance sports and events such as long-distance running, swimming and cycling. Injected in synthetic form, EPO enhances stamina by increasing the number of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the muscles. Experts say it can improve performance by up to 15 percent.
Any athlete can expect a random blood test.
Australian Federal Sports Minister Jackie Kelly said on Tuesday the new tests meant Sydney would have the world's toughest anti-drug programme. However, New Zealand Sports Drug Agency chief Graham Steel said on Tuesday it was unfortunate the IOC had been forced to go for a combined blood-urine test, with an athlete having to fail both to be penalised. So it may well be that the blood test will pick up a number of people who have been using it, but that may not be able to be validated by the urine test. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similiar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.