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Positive results to date from Commerzbank’s triathlon anti-doping project
von Commerzbank, am 08.10.2009
Just a few days before the Ironman Hawaii takes place, the Commerzbank Triathlon Team is able to review with satisfaction the results so far from the first two years of its pilot anti-doping project. The programme, which was started in 2007, now includes eight top international athletes: Normann Stadler, Timo Bracht, Maik Twelsiek, Marino Vanhoenacker, Mathias Hecht, Jan Raphael, Markus Fachbach and Scott Neyedli. It is considered to be exemplary, with its combination of frequent tests and long time profiles for all team members as well as the freezing of samples, use of preventative measures and an unequivocal zero-tolerance attitude.
The NADA (German National Anti-Doping Agency) has now announced the latest figures regarding tests taken in 2009 as part of the programme. 60 unannounced out-of-competition tests were carried out by the NADA in 2009 (as of 15.9.09), in which a total of 130 samples were taken. 43 of the tests were combined urine/blood tests; in some of these cases, three samples were taken: urine, blood for the blood profile and blood serum for growth hormone and CERA tests. In addition, six pre-competition tests made immediately before races were carried out and seven competition tests were made by event organisers. There were also three out-of-competition tests carried out by an anti-doping agency other than NADA. In total, 145 samples were provided by the athletes in 2009. All test results were negative.
The blood profiles, which took considerable effort to produce, also did not show any abnormalities. 51 blood samples were taken for the small haemogram, including for maintaining the long-term blood profile. 30 blood samples were taken for the purpose of testing for the growth hormone hGh. The total of 57 urine samples were all tested for EPO, which is not a routine test for all sports outside of this programme.
All athletes in the Commerzbank Triathlon Team are also all voluntary members of the NADA’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which includes the strictest reporting requirements and is compliant with the WADA code.
Dr Göttrik Wewer, Director of the NADA, comments: “The Commerzbank anti-doping project offers us the chance to set a great example by implementing an optimal testing system. This is achieved by using comprehensive analyses and long-term observation, as well as an unequivocal zero-tolerance approach. This also assists us in our efforts to also take the athlete’s surroundings and external influences into account, as this is of vital importance in the anti-doping struggle.”
“The Commerzbank anti-doping project demonstrates that we also take our social responsibilities seriously within the framework of our commitment to sport”, says Uwe Hellmann, Head of Brand Management at Commerzbank. “We seek to thereby provide a forward-looking strategy for the sport and hope that our model will be replicated by many others.”
Summary
Samples from unannounced NADA out-of-competition tests: 130 (60 tests)
Of which
blood: 81
urine: 57
combined samples (blood and urine): 43
Pre-competition tests (non-NADA): 6
Out-of-competition tests (non-NADA): 3
Competition tests (event organisers): 7
The NADA (German National Anti-Doping Agency) has now announced the latest figures regarding tests taken in 2009 as part of the programme. 60 unannounced out-of-competition tests were carried out by the NADA in 2009 (as of 15.9.09), in which a total of 130 samples were taken. 43 of the tests were combined urine/blood tests; in some of these cases, three samples were taken: urine, blood for the blood profile and blood serum for growth hormone and CERA tests. In addition, six pre-competition tests made immediately before races were carried out and seven competition tests were made by event organisers. There were also three out-of-competition tests carried out by an anti-doping agency other than NADA. In total, 145 samples were provided by the athletes in 2009. All test results were negative.
The blood profiles, which took considerable effort to produce, also did not show any abnormalities. 51 blood samples were taken for the small haemogram, including for maintaining the long-term blood profile. 30 blood samples were taken for the purpose of testing for the growth hormone hGh. The total of 57 urine samples were all tested for EPO, which is not a routine test for all sports outside of this programme.
All athletes in the Commerzbank Triathlon Team are also all voluntary members of the NADA’s Registered Testing Pool (RTP), which includes the strictest reporting requirements and is compliant with the WADA code.
Dr Göttrik Wewer, Director of the NADA, comments: “The Commerzbank anti-doping project offers us the chance to set a great example by implementing an optimal testing system. This is achieved by using comprehensive analyses and long-term observation, as well as an unequivocal zero-tolerance approach. This also assists us in our efforts to also take the athlete’s surroundings and external influences into account, as this is of vital importance in the anti-doping struggle.”
“The Commerzbank anti-doping project demonstrates that we also take our social responsibilities seriously within the framework of our commitment to sport”, says Uwe Hellmann, Head of Brand Management at Commerzbank. “We seek to thereby provide a forward-looking strategy for the sport and hope that our model will be replicated by many others.”
Summary
Samples from unannounced NADA out-of-competition tests: 130 (60 tests)
Of which
blood: 81
urine: 57
combined samples (blood and urine): 43
Pre-competition tests (non-NADA): 6
Out-of-competition tests (non-NADA): 3
Competition tests (event organisers): 7
Results
Schedule
- 13.03.2010 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon
- 14.03.2010 Ironman China
