LAUSANNE (SUI), FIG Office, July 5, 2010: The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has made public the 2009 statistics concerning the fight against doping. What stands out is the low number of positive cases and the nature of substances used, which rate among the least offensive. Despite these encouraging results, the Federation will remain vigilant, pursuing and increasing its activity through prevention, and ultimately by in and out of competition testing.

The information that has been distributed over the past few years is bearing fruit among both gymnasts and their support personnel.

A look at some interesting numbers.

The Elite

As of January 1, 2009, gymnasts listed in the RTP (Registered Testing Pool), which is the international register of elite athletes, was up to 257. By December 31, 78 had decided to leave international gymnastics, notably following the World Championships in London (GBR), Mie (JPN) and St Petersburg (RUS), and for the disciplines of Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline, respectively. By the close of 2009, the RTP included 179 gymnasts from 36 of the FIG’s 127 affiliated federations.

Testing

In 2009, 243 urine samples were collected and tested, 114 of which were taken during the last trimester at the time of world championship events. Out of these 243, 183 were performed in competition. The 60 remaining tests were conducted out of competition. It is worth noting that the FIG carried out 17 out of competition doping controls of its own accord, with a total of 43 performed by WADA, the World Anti-doping Agency.

Surprise testing represents a huge constraint for athletes, who are required to provide Whereabouts information every day from 6:00 – 23:00. Again in 2009, of 60 surprise controls, a mere 6 were not where they said they would be. In these cases, athletes are issued a yellow card, and in the event of a second offence, are sanctioned severely and may even be excluded from the competition circuit. Of 243 controls, 94 were related to RTP-listed gymnasts.

During the World Games of Kaohsiung (TPE), 4 blood samples were taken to detect the Erythropoietin (EPO) hormone, bringing the total of drug tests for 2009 up to 247.

Results

These are encouraging. A mere two cases came back positive out of 247 samples taken. The first was an out of competition test concerning Brazilian Daiana dos Santos, the second Alisa Usmanova (BLR) at the Acrobatic World Cup in Vila do Condo, Portugal. Furosemide was the offensive substance in both cases.

Proving true

The state of affairs in terms of drug testing for 2009 has encouraged the FIG to pursue its three-fold prevention policy. First there is the extensive communication output developed by the new Athletes Commission, chaired by Jani Tanskanen (FIN), and that of the Medical Commission and its President, Dr Michel Léglise, also Vice-President of the FIG, during official calendar events. The FIG has consistently produced information that is updated and made available on its official website.

Finally, there are the FIG Academies and the instruction they provide to coaches in terms of the harmful effects of doping in sport and more specifically, in the life of an athlete.

Masterminded and created by FIG President, Prof. Bruno Grandi, the Academies are gymnastics’ number one weapon in the fight against doping.

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