WMA negligence leads to Briton’s two-year dope ban
World Masters Athletics has some ‘splaining to do. Chris Melluish in Britain reports on my Forum that a teddy bear of an M55 thrower named Neil Griffin has been slapped with a two-year doping ban on the basis of some very questionable arguments. Now it’s clear: WMA would sooner kiss IAAF butt than be an advocate of masters athletes. I’m seeking further response from WMA officials, including Prez Cesare Beccalli.
Chris writes:
Neil has just received a two-year ban from the date of his suspension in June. I don’t want to go into too much detail, but here are the basics:
Neil is a diabetic with very low testosterone level. Since late 2001 (note: corrected from earlier 2004) he has been on testosterone injections to keep his level in the normal range. This is essential to protect his health. He applied for a TUE very soon after he went on the injections. WMA replied saying they had passed it on to IAAF. That was the last he ever heard of it.
He was targetted for testing at San Sebstian and they found testosterone. He was officially informed about the test in February 2006. WMA handled it so badly, including losing all the paperwork, that no action was taken.
He was given permission by Dieter Massin to compete in Linz and was asked to submit a further TUE a few days before the competition, which he did. He was again targetted at Linz, and, surprise, surprise, they found testosterone again. The date of the test was March 15th.
He received a letter saying his sample taken on March 18th had contained stanozolon. He was asked to keep the matter confidential. The WMA then put the announcement on their website that he had been taking steroids. Neil then received copies of two test results from WMA, his, which was positive for testosterone, and that of the Russian shot putter, on March 18th, which showed stanozolon.
I hope you are getting some idea of the competence of WMA.
Neil had a hearing in Germany three weeks ago, at which he provided considerable medical evidence to support his case.
Karri Wichman denied receiving the TUE until after he got home from Linz, although he had confirmed with one of the British Masters officials in Linz that he had received it. At the hearing Wichman handed round a list of about ten names, and he said these were all athletes whose TUEs he had passed on to IAAF with no reply. There was nothing he could do about it.
Neil received the result of the hearing on Monday. It contained the following:
‘It is not within the realm of the Panel to decide upon the soundness of Mr. Griffin’s TUE applications for testosterone submitted in January 2005 and March 2006 and, hence, the Panel did not weigh the medical evidence produced in support of the applications.’ He was therefore guilty of taking testosterone without a valid TUE.â€
Addition on 10/27: “Neil has been on testosterone since 2001. He used to carry two doctors’ letters around with him, but when the TUE system came in he applied for several, including testosterone.
One thing I missed out — the findings from the hearing included the following:
The Panel further recognizes that Mr. Griffin did not cheat. He declared openly that he takes testosterone and other medication in the exchange of letters prior to the Linz Championships. On the occasion of the doping control on March 15, 2006 Mr. Griffin handed over a set of documents including his TUE applications and some evidence about his medical situation.
Me again:
I’ve been warning about this for years — that masters athletes who take necessary medication for quality of life will get the shaft under IAAF/WMA anti-doping rules.
So who will speak up for Neil?
It could be YOU next.
5 Responses
This is very scary for those of us who submit TUE requests prior to international competition. I have done so for a numnber of years. Initially one had to file with IAAF – which never responded – not once – it was like they were laughing out loud when the faxed material spilled out of the fax machine – who cares about some old fart’s request.
Then there was the time I submitted the forms to WMA – and got a letter of approval from Torsten himself – I was both amazed and shocked – what – theh President of WMA is handing my so-called confidential medical request around the WMA Council? – the next time I received approval from the WMA drug Tsar – a letter which I dutifully carried with me to WMA meets in San Sebastian and Linz. Not once did I hear from IAAF – the rule was to apply to WMA – I have done that . So now – is that not sufficient?
I have never been drug tested – probably I fall far enough off the radar screen as to be not a person of interest – no gold medals for me so far. But this is all rather unnerving I must say. A letter of approval from WMA drug Tsar is not sufficient – now I must also apply to IAAF and have them drop my request in their overflowing circular file?
I have absolutely no clue if Karri Wichman has passed my TUE on to the IAAF – not a clue in the world – how is one to tell? If permission from WMA’s Karri Wichman is not sufficient – then what is? I do not look forward to being tested, and most likely it will never happen – but should it happen and I am “busted” for using a medication for which I have properly filed a TUE and received permission from WMA – wow- DRUG CHEAT – for all the world to think – and all this time I have been under the impression that I have done all the proper things to gain permission.
For those who think that it is cheating to use any drug for which a therapeutic exemption is required – I say – get a grip – be happy you need not use any of them. For some of us this is a matter of competing or not, or good health or poor health. For me it is a matter of using this drug or giving up competition. It enables me to compete, it does not enhance performance, it enables performance. There is a significant difference.
Mr Griffin is being badly treated by WMA – shame on them, shame shame shame – and for the rest of us who are attempting to play by the rules – apparently the rules are a joke – I am NOT Laughing.
Mary, your right Neil is being treated un-fairly.He needs many people from throughout the Masters community(worldwide) to speak up and support him. This decision needs to be over turned.This is a very important issue that needs to be addressed officially. They need to have a solution to this non-reponsiveness from IAAF. Solving this problem is an A priority in my opinion.Mark
This seems so arbitrary. Who among us might not be caught in this trap.
Ken thanks for following up on this issue.
Charlie Roll, M60 shot put
Perhaps WMA should dump the IAAF ! Once WAVA operated independently, so why not again ? Athletes have from time to time piven up in disgust with their governing bodies. We all remember the AAU, TAC, etc.
Im sorry i took so long to respond..this is a JOKE. Why pick on a sincere athlete with documentation of medical need and let the open athletes continue to flaunt ALL rules?? Whos kidding whom? One of the biggest “assetts” to todays ATHLETES is CHEMISTRY…GET REAL!! Pick on the “little guy” and glorify the cheating bastards who are laughing in our collective faces…LONG LIVE Track and Field!!!
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