WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014 SPORTS Tough drug-testing net in place for Olympics

LONDON: Go ahead - just try to get away will be analyzing samples around the ment agencies, whistle-blowers and pre- team, seizing blood doping equipment. record on doping. Scores of Russian ath- with it. If you’re willing to take the risk, clock. vious suspicious blood level results. While no Austrians tested positive at the letes in various sports have tested posi- you’ll pay the price. That’s the challenge The Winter Olympics have produced The testing program begins on Jan. time, four later received life bans from tive in recent months. A scandal in Sochi laid down to drug cheats thinking they only a small number of positive tests 30, the day the athletes village opens. the IOC. The IOC freezes and stores would be a huge embarrassment for the can dope their way to success at the over the years as they involve far fewer From then until the close of the games Olympic samples for eight years at the host country. Russia’s doping lab has Winter Olympics in Sochi. athletes than the Summer Games and on Feb. 23, Olympic athletes can be test- lab in Lausanne, Switzerland. The sam- also come under scrutiny, with WADA International Olympic and anti-dop- fewer sports with a record of doping. ed at any time and at any place, includ- ples can be retested when new methods threatening to suspend the Moscow- ing officials are implementing the tough- ing training sites anywhere in the world. become available. The storage period based facility late last year unless it est drug-testing program in Winter SCREENED OUT The games open on Feb. 7. will be extended to 10 years starting in improved its procedures. The lab has Games history, using intelligence to tar- Olympic officials hope any cheats will About 2,000 of the 3,000 athletes 2016. The IOC recently retested 350 sam- since passed inspection and has set up a get athletes and events considered most have been screened out already through competing in Sochi are expected to be ples from the Turin Olympics, but said it satellite facility in Sochi for the at risk. Authorities are focusing their extensive out-of-competition testing car- tested - some of them two, three or even will wait until after the Sochi Games to Olympics. efforts on weeding out dopers through ried out around the globe in the months, four times. The top five in all medal announce the results. The lab will be staffed by 90 person- rigorous pre-games and pre-competition weeks and days leading up to the games. events are tested, as well as others cho- “The rules from Torino say the IOC nel, including 18 international experts tests. Armed with an improved scientific Don’t think, though, that nobody’s cheat- sen at random. Since testing began at cannot discuss any details about that appointed by the IOC to help oversee method that can detect drug use going ing or that Sochi will be doping-free. the Winter Olympics in 1968, only 20 until the full doping control process is the operations. The main novelty is the back months rather than days, the “You’d be foolish to write off the doping cases have been reported by the completed, and it’s not completed yet,” “long-term metabolite” test for steroids, International Olympic Committee will Winter Games as having any lesser risk,” IOC. Only one was reported at the 2010 Budgett said. “What we can say is that it expanding the detection window by conduct a record number of tests. said Andy Parkinson, chief executive of Vancouver Games, with Polish cross- doesn’t affect any athletes who are com- weeks or months. The WADA lab in Urine and blood samples will be Britain’s national anti-doping agency. country skier Kornelia Marek disqualified peting in Sochi.” Cologne, Germany, has found hundreds stored for eight years for retroactive test- The IOC plans to carry out 2,453 tests after testing positive for EPO. Two hockey While testing has improved, there of positive cases with the new test in ing, providing further deterrence to any- in Sochi, including 1,269 pre-competi- players were reprimanded for minor vio- remains a loophole in the system: no reli- the past year. Also in use will be tests for one thinking they can avoid being tion controls. That’s a 57 percent increase lations after testing positive for stimu- able test exists for detecting the transfu- human growth hormone, which had caught. “I think it would be stupid to try in pre-games tests from the 2010 Winter lants. sion of an athlete’s own blood. Several been on hold following challenges to to cheat,” IOC medical director Dr. Games in Vancouver. sports federations, however, have adopt- the system for measuring blood limits. Richard Budgett told The Associated The majority of the 1,184 in-competi- STRIPPED OF MEDAL ed the “biological passport” program, “You can’t say there are no cheats,” Press. “If there are any doping cases in tion tests will be done in sports like There was one positive test during the which monitors an athlete’s blood WADA director general David Howman Sochi, some of them may be because cross-country skiing and biathlon, 2006 Turin Games, with Russian biathlete parameters over time to detect changes said. “People are having a go where they athletes are being stupid.” The Russian endurance events with a history of blood Olga Pyleva stripped of a silver medal. that could indicate doping. can, but the risk is heightening and the doping lab, which had faced possible doping and EPO use. About 20 percent of However, there was a wider doping scan- approach is better. “We keep saying: suspension by the World Anti-Doping the doping controls will be blood tests. dal in Turin. Acting on a tipoff from the SENSITIVE TIME ‘You’d be stupid if you tried to cheat at Agency for inadequate procedures, has Much of the testing will be based on IOC, Italian police raided the lodgings of The Olympics come at a sensitive the Olympics because you’re going to been fully accredited for the games and intelligence gathered from law-enforce- the Austrian cross-country and biathlon time for Russia, which has a dubious be found out.’”—AP Room for other ski racers to earn victories, grab attention

SOCHI: Before the races actually start, the biggest story line in at the Sochi Olympics centers around someone who will not be there: , the reigning downhill gold medalist and a four-time overall World Cup champion. If not for her surgically repaired right knee, Vonn would have been the one to watch, not only on the slopes - where she might have been expected to at least match her two-medal show- ing from Vancouver in 2010 - but also off them, in part because of her boyfriend, Tiger Woods. “We want to grow as a sport, and like every other sport, we are dependent on the interna- tional stars,” said Atle Skaardal, the International Ski Federation women’s race director. “And Lindsey Vonn is definitely an international star.” Her injury-forced absence means there will be room for other ski racers to earn victories, grab attention and have their stories told. In some respects, the 10 events in the mountains - starting with the men’s downhill on Feb. 9, Shiva Kesavan weather permitting - turn into a referendum on the next possible face of the sport. On the women’s side, Maria Hoefl-Riesch of No flag is no problem for Germany, Lara Gut of Switzerland, of , of Liechtenstein, and GROZNY: Chechen regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov holds an Olympic torch during a welcome India’s Winter Olympian 18-year-old Mikaela Shiffrin of the ceremony of the Olympic torch relay in Chechnya’s provincial capital Grozny.—AP all have the potential to win more than one medal. Among the men, Aksel Lund Svindal of As another American teen, swimmer Missy championships. NEW DELHI: India’s top competitor at the sport,” said the 32-year-old Kesavan, who is , of , and Ted Franklin, made clear at the London Olympics, WOMEN TO WATCH: Hoefl-Riesch, not Vonn, upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi says competing in his fifth Winter Olympics. Ligety of the United States probably are the like- there’s something about success at a very young was the only woman to leave Vancouver’s slopes not being able to compete under the Kesavan, who set an Asian record of liest to exit these Winter Games as household age that captivates an audience. with two golds, and the German is still as good national flag because of a political dispute 49.590 seconds in the Japanese city of names around the globe. Here are five Alpine AKSEL’S RISE: Svindal already enjoys rock- as anyone out there. If Hoefl-Riesch doesn’t will not harm his performance. Nagano in December 2012, conceded that skiing story lines to follow during the Sochi star status in Europe, thanks to his pair of overall dominate, Maze (who broke the record for most “In my heart and mind I’m competing winning India’s first medal at the Games Olympics: World Cup titles and his three medals at the World Cup points last season), Gut (who missed for India,” luge competitor Shiva Kesavan may not be realistic. THE NEXT VONN: Already given that label by Vancouver Games. Even he’ll tell you he’s got a the 2010 Olympics with a dislocated hip) or told The in an email inter- “A medal is my aim but seems just a little some, Shiffrin might be a bigger favorite in the shot at medals in four of the five events this Weirather (whose mother, , won view. “Every day I’m flooded with messages out of reach at this time,” Kesavan said. “I’m slalom than any other woman is in any other time: downhill, super-G, super-combined and two gold medals at the 1980 Lake Placid Games) from Indians all over the world telling me simultaneously working with my in-house event. She owns a World Cup title and world . “I have really good chances in two could. they are supporting me. This is enough to engineering team to build a sled which will championship gold in slalom. events,” Svindal said, “and I have decent chances AMERICAN VETERANS: The US left push me forward.” be hopefully the fastest I have ever been “Mikaela is very, very success-oriented in her in the two other events.” Vancouver with eight Alpine medals, their best The Indian Olympic Association was on. But this will take some time to develop. approach. It really reminds you of someone like AUSTRIA’S COMEBACK: Skiing is a big deal showing at an Olympics and twice as many as banned in December 2012 for not adhering Right now, I have to focus on getting four Lindsey,” US women’s Alpine coach Alex in Austria, which has won nearly twice as many any other nation collected in 2010. That won’t be to its own constitution and for electing clean runs in Sochi, and be the fastest I Hoedlmoser said. “She is training a lot. She puts Olympic Alpine medals as any other country, easy to replicate, especially without Vonn, but tainted officials. can.” everything aside. The focus is all on the sport.” including 14 in 2006. But in 2010, Austria came there are folks with plenty of experience and Though the IOA has re-drafted its con- “This season did not go according to Still, Shiffrin leaves time for being a typical away with only four medals - and zero for their success on the team, including Ligety (an stitution as directed, the ban can be lifted plan due to lack of high level technological teen - well, one who travels the World Cup circuit men for the first time at an Olympics they Olympic gold medalist in 2006, and three-time only after post-Sochi elections, so the inputs, which I had hoped to get on time with her mother - such as when she mashed up entered. world champion in 2013), (owner of Indian flag will not be used at the Feb. 7-23 from certain companies. However, this has Lupe Fiasco’s “Battle Scars” and Coldplay’s “The Hirscher is expected to play a big part in rec- five Olympic medals, including three in 2010 - games. not deterred me, and I am determined, as Scientist,” then had that musical combo in her tifying that. He’s the two-time reigning overall gold in super-combined, silver in super-G, “I’ve never been motivated by external always, to put up my best performance.” head while finishing second in a giant slalom at World Cup champion and took gold in slalom bronze in downhill), and (one fame or attention. I love my sport which is The other two Indian competitors who home in Colorado. and silver in giant slalom at last year’s world gold in 2006, two silvers in 2010). —AP why I have been doing it for 17 years. If I do will participate in Sochi are alpine skiers well, people will notice. My focus is my Himanshu Thakur and Nadeem Iqbal. —AP Napier content with life Seahawks forced to move Super Bowl after war and Olympics practice indoors LAKELAND: John Napier used to race for Napier said. “There were days when you’re driv- America. And he used to fight for America. ing around on roads or on patrol and you know JERSEY CITY: The Seattle Seahawks were forced to move their These days, he misses both. The former US you’ve got probably a 50 percent chance of Super Bowl practice inside on Monday as frigid temperatures left Olympic bobsledder was once thought of as getting blown up on this road. There’s terrifying fields frozen ahead of Sunday’s outdoor NFL championship someone who would be a top contender for a moments. I drive bobsleds at 90 mph, I go over game. medal at next month’s Sochi Olympics. Instead, water ski jumps, I’ll do any sport known to man. Outdoor practice fields were left covered in snow and frozen he’s studying biochemistry at Florida Southern And I was scared. Anybody would be. But you after a spell of arctic weather in the area, although College, dabbling with some competitive water get the brotherhood experience, and there’s no temperatures rose above freezing on Monday. skiing on the side, continuing his transition price you can pay for that.” each day from life as both a slider and a soldier So he traded his bobsled for an M249 light “We did not go outside today. We had a great workout today,” who fought in Afghanistan. machine gun, strapped 70 pounds of water Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told reporters about using the And he’s not regretting anything. “I miss and ammunition onto his 180-pound frame, New York Giants’ indoor facility at the Meadowlands complex going down the hill. I miss going down the hill read his Bible in tough moments and did the next to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. with my friends,” Napier said, sitting outside sip- job. When it was over after nearly 61/2 months, “It was a little more than you normally get during a normal ping coffee one recent morning before class. he came back to bobsledding. It just wasn’t the week’s practice, so the guys really took to it. We had a great tem- “But I’m in a really good place and I’ve been same, and after two seasons where results just po and enthusiasm and everything was really cool, so we’re off to given amazing opportunities right now to suc- weren’t what he wanted, he retired. a good start.” Wide receiver Golden Tate said the weather Sunday ceed in life. So I would say this is most impor- “It was my time,” Napier said. “I still felt the would not be a factor. “We’ve had a chance to practice in it, play tant right now, school, college.” need to win, but there was something else too. in it, be ready,” Tate said, alluding to the Seahawks’ 23-0 victory He joined the National Guard in 2007 and There was a frustration, a thorn, a sadness over the Giants at MetLife last month. became part of the Army’s World Class Athlete almost. It was almost depressing for me to be Program, which meant he got support in there. I would say it was time. I got led out of Defensive end Michael Bennett, Seattle’s leader in sacks with exchange for a small time commitment and the sport. One thing led to another, leading me 8.5 this season, said he was not even bothering to check weather being a military ambassador through bobsled- to where I am right now, and I’m happy where forecasts for Sunday’s game. ding. Thing is, Napier didn’t want to short- I’m at.” “I don’t think we’ll feel the snow. We’re ready for the snow,” he change the arrangement, so he looked for ways said about the chance of falling flakes. “We’re ready to play on to keep doing more with the military. IMMOBILIZED rocks.” Tate said their winning experience in New Jersey, in which He chose biochemistry for a reason: Seattle intercepted Giants quarterback Eli Manning five times, UNUSUAL DECISION “Because it’s hard,” he said. That’s pretty much has been discussed. That led him to make an unusual decision. been his reason for choosing almost every- “I definitely don’t think it hurts at all,” Tate said about practic- After the Vancouver Olympics four years ago, thing. Bobsledding isn’t easy, even for those ing indoors. “We’re familiar with the stadium, the turf (and) what here’s how he stunned friends inside and out- like him who got started as an 8-year-old. War to expect from the weather.” side the Army world: He asked to go to war. wasn’t easy; Napier speaks openly about Eventually, the Army granted his wish and friends who were either killed there or commit- Carroll said big-play wide receiver Percy Harvin was on board didn’t just deploy him to Afghanistan, but gave ted suicide after coming home, unable to deal for Sunday’s game after missing the NFC title clash against the him the opportunity - also as he insisted - to with the transition back to a normal life. Water San Francisco 49ers due to a concussion. “We’re in a phase of see battle. His first night there, bullets flew his skiing competitively isn’t easy, as evidenced by Super Bowl right now,” Carroll said about an all hands on deck way. how he was immobilized for three months after NEWARK: Seattle Seahawks’ Kam Chancellor answers a question during approach. “He’s in. (Harvin) had another great day today and a “I see the world from a different angle,” shredding one of his hamstrings. —AP media day for the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game. —AP great week last week. He’s part of the game plan.”—Reuters