Doping Control in Armwrestling

Explanation: In the evening, on Saturday, June 15th we published on our website the results of the doping control conducted after the European Armwrestling Championships held in Lithuania. We copied the information posted on the website of the Russian Armsport Association. It contained an official letter to the President of the RAA - Filimonov sent by the Director of the Doping Control Committee, J-F ANDRE.

The information has spread fast through other media and portals. As a result, it has provoked diverse comments in our and not only our environment.

We, as armpower.net – did a wrong thing. We wanted to pass the information quickly, but it does not justify our action. The only justification of our reaction was the fact that this correspondence was published on the RAA website.

The Director of the Doping Control Committee should inform specific national federations and interested athletes of a positive result of a A-sample control. At this point - no third party – should have the right to know about the situation.

Of course, the media spot leaks and use them immediately, but this is not the right practice.
An athlete who has been informed of a positive result of A-sample testing has the right to appeal and request a B-sample to be tested in his presence or in the presence of his attorney. The cost of testing the B-sample, which amounts to around 200-500 euros, is covered by the athlete.

Only when B-sample testing confirms a positive result, the athlete is disqualified under the provisions of the World Federation, continental and national federations.

A disqualified athlete does not have the right to participate in any events in our sport. If he ignores the ban, he will be further punished, so will be the organizer of the event who allowed for his participation in the competition.

Dear Readers!

That situation has sparked a lot of discussion and comments. We need to comment on it as well.

Why, when and who introduced the Doping Control into armwrestling?

Our goal is to introduce armwrestling into SPORT ACCORD. We’ve been attempting to achieve this aim for a long time, yet our efforts have been inefficient and ineffectual at times, especially those taken by the former WAF management.

In order to join this organization, armwrestling has to comply with the generally accepted rules and principles of doping control applied by WADA.

We cannot ignore this obligation!

WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY http://www.wada-ama.org/en/

It is a global structure devoted to the doping control in all sports, both Olympic and those which aspire to join the Olympic family.

During the 2005 European Championships, which were held in Bulgaria, the use of doping control was proposed for the first time. It was Assen Hadjitodorov’s initiative, the President of the Bulgarian Federation and the European Federation. The initiative was approved and consequently doping tests started to be used as it was treated as a prerequisite for any aspirations to join SPORT ACCORD.

In 2005 the first tests were conducted.

At the World Championships 20 tests were conducted for each of the first three places in junior and senior classes. There wasn’t a single positive result.

We were surprised and happy at the same time.

The first athlete to get a positive result was a Russian armwrestler Artiom Klimenko. It was tested positive at the World Championships. The tests showed the presence of nandrolone. The athlete was disqualified for two years. From what I can remember, thanks to the efforts of Assen Hadjitodorov and Igor Mazurenko, the period was reduced to one year.

Mutual relations between professional and amateur armwrestling

At this point of the history of our sport there appeared a professional organization under the name of IPAA International Professional Armwrestling Association.

This organization invited the disqualified athlete to compete in their events. That’s not all! IPAA authorities announced that athletes could use doping giving powerlifting as an example of a sport, in the case of which there were many federations apart from the most important one.

IPAA invited Artiom Klimenko to join its competitions –they slandered and accused WAF of improper conduct of doping tests.

By the decision of the WAF, athletes competing in IPAA events were not allowed to participate in any competitions, including local events. Despite this, some athletes decided to join IPAA. IPAA soon ceased to exist.

The biggest professional armwrestling organization - PAL acknowledges decisions taken by WAF and EAF.

Currently, the national associations fully recognize the decisions of the WAF and EAF. As a result, athletes suspended by these organizations will not be invited to any event.

The doping control procedure

The Director of the Doping Control Committee collaborates with members of the doping committee of the federation - the host of an event. And he also collaborates with the laboratory authorized by WADA.

The Commission can conduct 40 tests at each event.

The costs of the testing are covered by EAF in the case of European championships, whereas in the case of world championships the costs are carried by WAF.

Five junior competitors are tested - medalists with the left and right hand.

Five disabled athletes are tested.

Ten tests are conducted in the senior women group and ten in the senior men division.
Each top three medalists after the decoration ceremony have to appear at the doping control station with an ID card and a badge.

Those athletes who do not appear at the doping control station are assumed to admit the use of prohibited drugs and automatically disqualified.

At the doping control station athletes receive cards - distributed by the Director of the Commission. Some cards have a letter corresponding to “test” on the reverse, while other cards are blank.
The athlete who has drawn the “test” card, goes immediately with a member of the committee to urinate. Sometimes it takes some time, but the athlete is not allowed to leave the station without giving his urine sample.
Then, the samples are described according to the WADA recommendations and requirements and transported to a laboratory certified by WADA.
The samples are analyzed and results of A-sample testing are announced in the laboratory.
An athlete, or any other person, has no control over either the draw or the procedure of testing samples.
An athletes, who takes prohibited substances following doctor’s orders, must provide the relevant documents.
If the A-sample is positive, the athlete may, at his own expense, request a B-sample to be tested.
 

To sum-up!

The situation after the doping control at the European Championships in 2013 looks like this: Competitors and their national federations have been informed. Each athlete, in cooperation with the national federation - has the right to have his B-sample examined.

Up to this point, no one should disclose the names or other data of athletes.

DOPING - HOW TO protect?
I assume that you do not use doping deliberately.
I recommend that you read carefully the list of prohibited substances. This list is not fixed as new substances are added from time to time.
If you’re ill and take any medication - always inform your doctor that you practice sport and you are subject to doping control. Even in such a simple matter as dental treatment under anesthetic this is very important.
If, in the case of a long term illness, you undergo medical treatment, your doctor needs to know that you practice sport and that you can be subject to doping control.
Use only well-tried supplements!
On your way to the competition as well as during the competition, keep your water or other liquids with you, and never drink from someone else’s bottle, water bottle or glass.
Eat only the food to which no one could add anything.
Of course, let’s not exaggerate. Still it’s always better to buy water or other drinks yourself ...

Just to stay on the safe side.
Doping is a serious matter. You train hard, dedicate your own money to participate in competitions. You often represent not only your country, but also companies that are your sponsors. You cannot afford a be tested positive, by accident or as a result of someone’s hostile (aware or not) action.