Botched test throws out suspicious drug sample at Winter Games

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ The first possible doping case of the Winter Games was thrown out Monday because the drug test wasn't handled properly. <br><br>The International Olympic Committee said ``an isolated

Monday, February 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ The first possible doping case of the Winter Games was thrown out Monday because the drug test wasn't handled properly.

The International Olympic Committee said ``an isolated case of breach of chain of custody'' occurred in a random drug test when a bag containing the urine sample was not properly sealed.

A second test was ordered for the athlete later Monday, the IOC said.

The statement did not identify the athlete and said only that the person did not qualify for finals of the event, but Olympic sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking anonymously, said the athlete was a speedskater from Belarus.

There was no word on what the initial test might have found.

While the case will not be listed as the first drug positive among the almost 1,000 samples so far, it is an embarrassment for an anti-doping system that had been touted as the most widespread and foolproof ever at an Olympics.

Only five drug cases have been confirmed since the first Winter Olympics in 1924, none the past three games.

The IOC and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee handle drug samples. The IOC said the ``breach occurred during the testing procedure'' and that it had told its medical commission ``to take all necessary steps to ensure proper testing, including reliable chain of custody of samples.''

It also said it ``instructed SLOC to take all appropriate measures to avoid any repetition of such an incident.''

SLOC uses volunteers to help collect samples and transport them to the lab.

The IOC established a lab in Salt Lake City, rather than fly samples to other accredited laboratories in North America. It also was being watched by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which stationed independent monitors to make sure rules and procedures were followed.

The laboratory near the Olympic Village is using millions of dollars' worth of scientific equipment to ensure that athletes in the 2002 Games aren't using any of the nearly 400 substances banned by the IOC.

Urine samples are put through about 10 tests, designed to detect narcotics, stimulants, steroids, beta blockers, diuretics and other substances.

Cross-country skiers, biathletes, Nordic combined athletes and long-track speed skaters also have undergone testing for erythropoietin, or EPO, a hormone that boosts production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to the muscles.

Use of banned substances is less prevalent in winter sports. Before the games, experts predicted just 1 percent to 2 percent of athletes will test positive, or about half the rate of summer Olympians.

Last month, American bobsledder Pavle Jovanovic of Toms River, N.J., was suspended for two years after testing positive for traces of nandrolone, a muscle-building steroid. He believes the substance was in a protein powder his coach gave him as a meal substitute.