The World Ant-Doping Agency (WADA) have stated today that greater collaboration with drug companies could be one of the biggest weapons in combating cheating in sport. WADA Director General David Howman said “I think this year will provide further results in that area.” Riders who were using the new blood booster CERA, thought that the substance was undetectable. Yet, drug company ROCHE (who produced CERA) alerted WADA to it’s suspected abuse by athletes, and steps were then taken to test for the banned substance. This resulted in several positive tests from the Tour de France, including Riccardo Ricco and Leonardo Piepoli of Italy. Third placed Bernhard Kohl and Germany’s Stefan Schumacher, who won both time trial stages, were also caught two months later when the French anti-doping agency developed a new blood test for CERA.

“We are talking with the industry in other parts of the world so that we partner in projects similar to the CERA project,” Howman said. “Any new substance that is in the process of research and development might potentially be abused by athletes, therefore, we have to be alert to that progress.”

In a recent article on WADA’s website, President John Fahey remained cautious of the future, “We must constantly challenge ourselves and the efficacy of our current programs,” he said. “At the forefront of our efforts must be a values-based education program. Going forward, anti-doping organizations must also implement smarter programs. We must use modern technology to simplify our methodologies.” “Today,” he concluded, “athletes who play fair in sport can have increasing confidence that major progress is being made in the fight against doping and that the net is closing around the cheaters. WADA will continue to work relentlessly to further close the net and meet the challenges in the years to come.” Mr Fahey also went on to praise the development of the biological passport system and the possibility of anti-doping organizations reanalyzing doping control samples as science advances.