WADA mulling over introduction of hair sample test

Along with blood and urine samples, athletes will soon have to provide a sample of their hair for doping test as World Anti Doping Agency is contemplating introducing hair test for ascertaining dope level in participating sportspersons.

Feb 2011

"WADA is pondering to introduce hair sample test too to screen sportspersons for use of banned drugs. There is to check the drug abuse for a particular drug -- Clenbuterol -- that is currently on its banned list," Dr Ashok Ahuja, former head of the Sports Medicine faculty, National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, said.

"This drug is an excellent muscular strength booster. The hair test can only tell that was the drug intentionally taken or not," said the man who is credited with having tested hundreds of dope-affected athletes said.

Talking about the drug, Ahuja said, "Clenbuterol steroid is given by veterinary doctors to pregnant cows to give birth to healthy calfs. It is also given to lambs and it is an excellent growth enhancer for livestock.

"Traces of this drug can be found in humans who have consumed meat from clenbuterol-fed animals. Since it is an excellent muscle booster it is unfortunately being used by sportspersons too.

"So to know that whether this drug abuse case detected with any sportsperson is because of intentional doping or because this drug got absorbed in the body while consuming meat of an animal fed with this banned drug, a hair test can tell it all," he said.

Till now only blood and urine samples are collected by anti-doping agencies to check for drug abuse by athletes.

Ahuja said that Clenbuterol steroid will not be acceptable in any quantity by WADA.

Detailing about the hair test, he said, "It is a specialised test. The concentration of this drug in the body will determine whether the doping was intentional or not.

"This drug if found in muscle route then it will be considered as deliberate doping and if found in the digestive system the athlete is safe," he said.

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