New EPO Testing Protocol

powerbookboy

Thought it might be the case after Vini Fantini, but it appears that a new testing protocol for EPO has been approved and is being used in anger. Interesting that they've retrospectively tested old samples that we -ve under the old testing regime and are now positive.

Think there are going to be a few sleepless nights ahead in the peloton.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/serebry ... d-epo-test

jimmythecuckoo

So you can retroglow and still be brought to book ? wow!

Richmond Racer

Good. That's it. Good.

ddraver

Yep good, anyone that goes on the hate list is a good thing, but does nt mean that I like them for it....

Abdoujaparov

Wahey.

Mad_Malx

Just spent a nerdy hour googling the "new WADA technical documents concerning the identification of EPO"
As far as I can see, the main change appears to be the addition of hematide to the detection protocol, which is a structurally distinct EPO mimic. There are also additional analytical methods (including immunoassays and mass spectrometry) which may provide a clearer result for other analogues.

http://playtrue.wada-ama.org/news/revis ... -approved/

Macaloon

Mad_Malx wrote:

Just spent a nerdy hour googling the "new WADA technical documents concerning the identification of EPO"
As far as I can see, the main change appears to be the addition of hematide to the detection protocol, which is a structurally distinct EPO mimic. There are also additional analytical methods (including immunoassays and mass spectrometry) which may provide a clearer result for other analogues.

http://playtrue.wada-ama.org/news/revis ... -approved/

Keeping on top of the latest criteria required to assess the true value of a win is a full time job. Catching up on the latest haematology will be a piece of p1$$. Cheers.

Mad_Malx

Sorry - was in work mode. I recently asked final year science undergrads to present information as if to a lay audience and they were completely incapable of doing this, I'm probably guilty also.

Hematide is interesting. It is relatively small molecule that looks like the active part of EPO, but would not show at all on standard EPO tests. It was licensed for anaemia in the USA last year, so it has probably been kicking around he black market for a few years. A good test (immunoassay, which is straightforward, sensitive and probably very specific) was published in December 2011*. Hematide was promptly withdrawn after rare cases of severe and fatal allergic reactions ON FIRST USE.

*Edit - but only recognised by WADA in March 2013.

Macaloon

Thanks. It wasn't jargon. I was just tickled that I had absolutely no clue what you were talking about. Alongside judges awarding panache scores on MTFs, I'm imagining those heated tents at the top filled with crack CSI-Interpol agents dusting for molecules.