Random drug testing before Games

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 42

Random drug testing before Games

PA Wellington More than 200 random drug tests will be carried out on New Zealand athletes within the next three months as part of the programme leading up to the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games. The executive meeting of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association held in Wellington on Tuesday heard that by the time the Games begin in late January, 400 tests will have been done on athletes in the 10 participating sports. The N.Z.O.C.G.A. chairman, Bill Garlick, said the programme was breaking new ground and had been brought in very quickly since the "blow up” at the Seoul Olympics over the Ben Johnson affair.

The drug testing advisory committee convener, lan Boyd, said the structure for the testing was now in place and a laboratory in Los Angeles would be doing the

analysis. A shipment of drug testing packs was expected later this week. “At that point, we will be ready and able to start testing,” Boyd said, adding that his committee was still waiting for information on the competitive and training programmes of athletes from some sports. “We are trying to educate sports competitors, coaches and officials about the dangers of taking banned substances. But we also want to deter anybody foolish enough to take drugs.” Boyd said if the campaign prior to the 1990 Games — costing around $128,000 over 12 months — was successful, the N.Z.O.C.G.A. would want to continue the programme leading up to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In earlier business, the new N.Z.O.C.G.A. president, Sir David Beattie, said he believed there was enough goodwill to overcome threats

from African nations against the 1990 Games. The English, Welsh and Scottish rugby unions have decided to pass on invitations to players for South African centenary celebrations. The decisions have brought condemnation from anti-apart-heid organisations and the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee spokesman, Sam Ramsamy, has said pressure could be brought to ban the offending countries from the 1990 Games. "I want to assure other Commonwealth nations that New Zealand is adhering to the Gleneagles agreement,” Sir David said. "But actions against other countries over our games ultimately affect us. “Problems are not solved by going away from them. Let’s enjoy the Games together as a Commonwealth. The goodwill there will help reduce the problems.”