CIS DRUG TESTING INEFFECTIVE, SAYS POUND

After Only 44 Doping Cases In 17 Years Of CIS Drug Tests, Wada Chair
Says Random Screening Doesn't Work

A brand new online course to teach student-athletes about doping in
sport is now mandatory for all Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS
varsity competitors).

What used to be offered as a drug education seminar administered by
universities has been condensed into an online course designed to
inform student-athletes about the CIS' doping control program, which
regulates Canadian university athletics.

Tom Huisman, director of operations and development for CIS, called
the course "more efficient" and said it will allow athletes to get all
the necessary information about the doping control program in a
timelier manner.

The CIS and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport co-ordinate the
doping control program and conduct drug tests on university athletes
to ensure they are complying with the rules of the Canadian
Anti-Doping Program, which took effect in June 2004.

According to Huisman, testing is primarily random with a one in 25
chance that a student-athlete will be tested during the calendar year.

Richard Pound, chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), said in a
telephone interview that the CIS should consider stepping away from
random sampling to improve the effectiveness of its doping control
program.

"A four per cent chance of getting tested is not huge, and when you
are working with limited resources you need to make sure testing is
effective," Pound said.

"Random testing is probably the least effective because it is simply a
numeric decision and doesn't assess where the risks of drug use are
highest."

Drug testing has been a staple in CIS competition for 17 years. Since
its inception in 1990, nearly 5,000 tests have been conducted and 44
infractions found.

The two substances accounting for the most infractions are steroids
and marijuana.

With 10 positive marijuana tests since 2002, questions have arisen
about the validity of marijuana being included on WADA's list of
banned substances. The general argument is that marijuana is not a
performance-enhancing drug and should not be prohibited.

Pound said the debate around the inclusion of marijuana is a consensus
judgement with a lot of different perspectives.

"We don't want there to be any suggestion in the sport community that
we condone the use of illegal substances," Pound said, explaining his
position and that of his organization.

Under the rules of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, if an athlete can
establish that a positive test was not intended to enhance their sport
performance then punishment will be less severe.

Last year three CIS football players tested positive for marijuana.
None received suspensions.

While marijuana has been a recent concern, overall statistics show
steroids have accounted for 23 -- more than half -- of all doping
violations in CIS history.

"CIS wants to ensure that everyone has a level playing field," Huisman
said, stressing the importance of steroid education.

"Doping control will hopefully alleviate the pressures on students to
feel the need to gain an unfair advantage."

Bruce Marshall, head athletic therapist at Carleton University, said
the majority of education is focused on performance-enhancing drugs.

Marshall, who interacts closely with Carleton's varsity athletes and
coaching staffs, gave absolute assurance that no Carleton athlete has
ever tested positive for a banned substance in the 12 years he has
been affiliated with the institution.

This is not to say that Carleton athletes have never been
tested.

Rob Saunders, a fourth-year electrical engineering student and member
of the Carleton men's basketball team, has been tested twice at the
national championships.

"It sucks," Saunders said. "We just won and we were celebrating [...]
and then you get some guy come up and tell you that you've been
randomly selected for a drug test."

But Saunders said he does not object to the idea of drug testing in
CIS competition, and praised Carleton's athletic therapy staff for the
work they do to educate student-athletes.

Marshall said there is a therapist assigned to each major varsity team
to oversee student training regiments and to offer advice.

He also said there is a clinic where varsity athletes can come and
check the status of prescribed medications to ensure they are not
violating the CIS doping control program.

"I'm sure there are guys working out, who go to Carleton that are
taking steroids. But as far as our varsity sports I would say it is
unlikely," Marshall said.