UK Anti-Doping CEO Nicole Sapstead wants all int'l athletics federations "to use biological passports in the campaign against drug use in the sport," according to the PA. Sapstead "was speaking in the wake of new doping allegations in The Sunday Times which focused on marathon running." The biological passport is an electronic record for each athlete, containing the results of individual urine and blood tests, and can track a performer’s profile, establish “normal” levels and detect possible variations. Sapstead said, “There are some international federations that do not use the international biological passport and we want to see that brought in all over the world as that is a great anti-doping tool. We are supporting WADA in their efforts to get other countries to do what they should be doing because I think there are some that should be held to account” (PA, 8/10). The BBC reported Sapstead said that athletes "could be falsely accused of cheating if blood data is not analysed correctly." Sapstead said that "other factors must be taken into account to ensure accuracy." Sapstead: "You can't just look at anonymous data in isolation. You have to look at it in context. You have to look at whether that data was collected when an athlete was at altitude, after they competed, after they were training, whether they had a medical condition that might justify some of those results. This data, without a narrative behind it, can be misinterpreted" (BBC, 8/10).
IAAF BLAMED: In London, Sarah Ebner wrote a group of German athletes, including Robert Harting, the world, Olympic and European discus champion, "have attacked the IAAF for allegedly failing to act over accusations of doping within the sport." The group has put together a one-minute long video demanding “honesty, integrity and transparency” and accused the world governing body of putting “money over athletes.” In the video, Harting said, "You destroy our sport and that’s why we have to react.” Other athletes in the video include German discus champion Julia Fischer and Kathrin Klaas, "the hammer thrower who came fifth at London 2012." They blame the IAAF for “destroying” their childhood dreams, and say they cannot trust the organization (LONDON TIMES, 8/10).
