Leaked drug test data reveals that seven London marathon winners in 12 years "recorded suspicious" blood scores that indicate that they could have doped, according to Calvert, Arbuthnott & Collins of the LONDON TIMES. And one in four winners of the six internationally famous city marathons -- Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, N.Y. and Tokyo -- has test results "that suggest they may have doped." Fresh disclosures this weekend include:
- The winners of 34 major city marathons -- one in four -- "should have faced censure or at least been investigated over evidence of potential blood doping within their test results."
- Athletes whose results were considered suspicious by the Sunday Times's experts collected more than £3M in prize money from those marathons.
- In London, seven wins, six second places and seven third places were secured by "athletes whose blood tests were deemed suspicious by the experts."
- Former world No. 1 marathoner Liliya Shobukhova had "extreme blood scores" for nine years before "action was finally taken against her (LONDON TIMES, 8/9).
MORE TESTING: The BBC reported London Marathon CEO Nick Bitel said that the IAAF "has agreed to increase out-of-competition tests for athletes at the world's six major marathons," but criticized the organization. Bitel: "We are disappointed when we have been doing more than anyone to fight doping in our sport" (BBC, 8/9). In London, Maev Kennedy wrote Bitel insisted that, although the organizers were paying “thousands of pounds” for athlete testing, they were not told of the results by the IAAF, and had been unaware of the suspicious data. Bitel: "The IAAF needs to do more to stop people from starting who have blood values that are out of normal range." In an earlier statement, he said, "We believe there are people in our sport who are cheating and everyone has a part to play to protect those who are not" (GUARDIAN, 8/9). Also in London, James Riach wrote an IAAF spokesperson said, "All the marathon organizers had a thorough explanation of what the ABP [athlete biological passport] was when the IAAF engaged in joint blood testing with them. In four years of cooperation they have never asked to see any results. The London Marathon do not pay for all the testing. It is a joint program of London Marathon/IAAF and UKAD [UK Anti-doping] is used to collect the samples." Mo Farah, whose American coach Alberto Salazar has been at the center of doping allegations, "is one of eight British athletes who have asked for their blood test data to be made public." On Thursday Shobukhova "was stripped of her London and Chicago marathon titles" after all her results since '09 were annulled and a doping ban extended by 14 months (GUARDIAN, 8/9). REUTERS' Martyn Herman wrote the IAAF "has continued its fightback against widespread allegations that it failed to act" by highlighting a strong message of support from one of the "pioneers" of the anti-doping movement. The IAAF said it was "pleased to receive a message of support" from Professor Arne Ljungqvist -- former chairman of the IOC Medical Commission and VP of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The IAAF quoted Ljungqvist, an honorary life VP of the athletics governing body, in a statement saying, "The IAAF did more than others, before the others, but is now criticized by people, who have no insight into the work of IAAF, for not having done enough" (REUTERS, 8/8).
Former world No. 1 marathoner Liliya Shobukhova had "extreme blood scores" for nine years before "action was finally taken against her (LONDON TIMES, 8/9).
