Olympics: drug testing advances

by SUZANNE McFADDEN

The war against drugs is about to enter a new phase as international scientists perfect a test to detect the most abused substance of all - the hormone erythropoietin - in Olympic athletes.

The Australian Sports Drug Agency is working against the clock to find a blood test which can pick up EPO in the bloodstream long after athletes have stopped injecting it.

The Australian Institute of Sport will finish its EPO testing programme next week, while Tour de France officials will try out a new test during next month's cycle race.

The battle is then to convince the International Olympic Committee to introduce blood testing in Sydney, as well as the conventional, but controversial, urine tests used at past Games.

The Olympics – a Herald series

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