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4 U.S. athletes positive for THG
RALEIGH, North Carolina, (Reuters) -- Four American athletes have tested positive for the designer anabolic steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) as U.S. Track and Field chiefs plan major new measures to combat drugs cheats. "One of those four did not compete at the world championships, and none of them were medallists at the world championships," USATF chief executive officer Craig Masback said in Indianapolis. Earlier British sprinter Dwain Chambers admitted testing positive for THG but denied taking the substance "willfully," his lawyer said. Meanwhile, the USATF warned in a statement on Wednesday that "a substantially increased set of punishments and fines for athletes who cheat and their coaches (will be launched).... "This could include lifetime bans for first steroid offenses and fines up to $100,000 for steroid convictions." The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said last week that "several" American athletes had tested positive for THG which until recently was undetectable in normal testing procedures. And the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed that the method for detecting the "designer" steroid at the heart of the sport's latest doping scandal is being sent to IOC-accredited laboratories throughout the world. Distribution of the test for tetrahydrogestrinone means 30 labs will be able to test for the latest sophisticated doping device. The USATF has been under considerable pressure from the International Olympic Committee and anti-drugs campaigners to take action after allegations that previous drugs culprits had been cleared to compete despite positive tests. On Tuesday the IAAF confirmed to CNN that urine samples from this year's world championships are to be re-tested "specifically for THG." IAAF spokesman Nick Davies acknowledged that the re-testing process could take several months. He said it was necessary "to maintain the credibility of the sport," and he did not rule out retrospective testing of other samples held under IAAF jurisdiction. The discovery of THG has caused shockwaves in track and field, the central sport of the Olympics, less than a year before next year's Games in Athens. USADA's leader, Terry Madden, has described the THG finding as the largest drug bust ever in the sport involving steroids. As with the American athletes, Chambers is now awaiting the result of a B sample. Traces of the drug THG were found in a urine sample that the European 100 meters champion and record holder provided during an out-of-competition test in Germany in August. `
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