Bazarova/Larionov doping test result?

[cassieandcheetah]

Oh no! I just found out about Vera Bazarova's partner's positive drug test....Does anyone know what the ruling was, or when it comes out if it hasn't? apparently he (but not her) is facing a two-year ban...how terrible!

 

[sillylionlove]

Wow if this is true that's pretty sad. I saw them at Skate America and they were really good.

 

[chuckm]

Apparently Larionov took furosemide, a diuretic that is on the banned list because it is used to try to flush illegal drugs from the system. The drug was discovered in his system when he was subjected to a random drug test more than two weeks before the JGPF.

A spokesman from the Russian federation said Larianov had taken it to lose weight because he wasn't fitting into his costumes. Even if that is true, he should have known that furosemide was banned. He is 21 and no kid.

Bazarova/Larionov had been on the substitute list for Junior Worlds, but they are not on it now.

 

[oleada]

I read on goldskate.ru that they can not participating in any competitions until the end of the season. I don't think a final decision has been reached.

I feel very sorry for Vera Bazarova.

 

[sillylionlove]

I feel very sorry for Vera too. But she is only 14 so maybe she will be able to find another partner

 

[Piel]

Furosemide (Lasix) is a very commonly used diuretic....to remove excess fluid from the lungs in heart failure or from the extremities due to circulatory problems,and to treat high blood pressure. It is a fairly harsh diuretic and can cause kidney problems. A healthy athlete...........especially a man (as opposed to a women having premenstrual fluid retention) taking it because his costumes are tight doesn't make sense. I wonder if he was retaining fluid due to a medical condition we are unaware of? Here is a link to learn more about this medication (there are several pages to the article).

 

[Ptichka]

I feel very sorry for Vera too. But she is only 14 so maybe she will be able to find another partner

It is not a lifetime ban. It may make sense for her to stick with Larionov.

 

[chuckm]

I read on goldskate.ru that they can not participating in any competitions until the end of the season. I don't think a final decision has been reached.

I feel very sorry for Vera Bazarova.

The Russian federation has banned him for the rest of the season, but the final disposition of the case is up to WADA (the anti-drug organization) and the ISU. The maximum ban he could receive is two years.

IMO, the penalty should be less than two years, but certainly more than just a rest-of-season ban. Taking any drug without consulting the banned list should get more than a slap on the wrist.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

I'm always so confused how some drugs make the list and others don't... I remember when Elana B. was banned from a competition because she used a cold medicine that had an ingrediant on the banned list but other drugs are encouraged... like cortizone... how is it ok to shoot corizone into your ankle (Z/X at '03 worlds...) but not ok to take a cold medicine when you have a cold??

Is there some key piece I'm missing here??

 

[chuckm]

Berezhnaya was given a prescription cold medicine by her doctor. She checked it on one list, and it wasn't there, but it was on another list. It turned out the medication had an ingredient that was on the banned list. In her case, the end-of-season ban was appropriate because the drug was prescribed for her, and she had made an effort to check if it was OK.

Topical (administered locally) cortisone shots to relieve inflammation are perfectly OK. They are not anabolic steroids that can affect performance by giving an athlete greater strength and stamina. However, drugs used by asthma sufferers are not allowed because they contain powerful inhaled steroids plus other drugs which have a stimulant effect on the nervous system.

Irina Slutskaya was allowed to take prednisone because it is a steroid that has, if anything, a negative effect on performance. She would not have been allowed to take furosemide (which could have relieved the accumulation of fluid in the face and body that is caused by prednisone).

 

[Piel]

Kwanfordwife ITA. IIRC Oksana B. got an injection of lidocaine to numb something at the Lillihammer Olympics. It seems like if the athlete has an injury it is OK to numb (lidocaine) or reduce inflammation (cortisone) so that they are able to skate. IMO this is a questionable practice. Pain is the body's warning signal..........hey there is something wrong here I need to be rested. OTOH if I were an elite athlete (instead of just being a clumsy mortal who cannot walk and chew gum at the same time) would I be willing to risk possible permanent injury in order to chase that gold medal?

 

[Kwanford Wife]

HAH!!! I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE DOUBLE QUOTE THING!!! YAY KW!!!

Berezhnaya was given a prescription cold medicine by her doctor. She checked it on one list, and it wasn't there, but it was on another list. It turned out the medication had an ingredient that was on the banned list. In her case, the end-of-season ban was appropriate because the drug was prescribed for her, and she had made an effort to check if it was OK.

Topical (administered locally) cortisone shots to relieve inflammation are perfectly OK. They are not anabolic steroids that can affect performance by giving an athlete greater strength and stamina. However, drugs used by asthma sufferers are not allowed because they contain powerful inhaled steroids plus other drugs which have a stimulant effect on the nervous system.

.

chuckm - I would disagree with the cortisone being a performance enhancing substance... If you're a skater with a sprained ankle who needs the pain gone long enough to be thrown 20 feet in the air - then thats performance enhancing... I'm sure who ever came in second would probably agree... I remember Tonya Harding using an inhaler for her asthma, but I assume that was before the drug list was updated... was Tonya's inhaler the cause of the ban? As an asthmatic myself, I don't remember ever feeling stronger or having "enhanced permance" unless breathing is considered a bad thing...

Kwanfordwife ITA. IIRC Oksana B. got an injection of lidocaine to numb something at the Lillihammer Olympics. It seems like if the athlete has an injury it is OK to numb (lidocaine) or reduce inflammation (cortisone) so that they are able to skate. IMO this is a questionable practice. Pain is the body's warning signal..........hey there is something wrong here I need to be rested. OTOH if I were an elite athlete (instead of just being a clumsy mortal who cannot walk and chew gum at the same time) would I be willing to risk possible permanent injury in order to chase that gold medal?

But at its heart, isn't that the idea behind banning certain substances?? That psychotic need to win, regardless, that makes athletes do all kinds of stuf to their bodies for an added advantange? I just never see how the distinctions are made... breathing is bad but numb limbs that have tremendous forces applied is ok... I'm not the brightest person on the planet, but sometimes these rules don't seem to be based in common sense... But since I can't breath half the time, have a habit of tripping over stuff and have a bad back despite my insistance on wearing 3 inch heels most days - I should just be glad that inhalers and vicodine aren't banned in nonprofit... teehee...

 

[Piel]

That Irina could not take Lasix to counteract the side effects of Prednisone is a sad, sad commentary on the state of athletics IMO. It is no fun to hear your lungs gurgle everytime you take a step or to feel like you are smothering/drowning in your own body fluids. I guess to even things out they should have made everyone competing with her carry a quart of fluid around in their lungs. Seriously, what it comes down to is how sick or injured is too sick or injured to compete safely and fairly? How much dependance on medication is reasonable and how much is giving an unfair advantage?

 

[decker]

How much dependance on medication is reasonable and how much is giving an unfair advantage?

I don't see any unfair advantage from taking a licit medication for its intended purpose of correcting a health deficit. Licit performance enhancers in many cases do not actually enhance performance unless they are taken by people who don't really have the condition the drug is supposed to correct.

Example: the level of some chemical in your body is too high or too low. As a result, your lungs, heart, or some other part does not work correctly. Medication taken "as intended" brings the chemical back to a health-sustaining level, and your body works correctly again. This does not enhance (juice up) performance. It merely corrects a non-healthful, non-normal situation. What are you supposed to do? Lay down and die? Why should an athlete feel obliged to retire from competition due to a perfectly treatable health problem?

AFAIK, the drug rules were not adopted to to encourage more appropriate treatment and recovery times for injuriy and illness.They were adopted to address use of drugs for enhancing performance (which, again, is not the same as restoring health) and, in the case of psychoactive substances, to punish recreational use. But don't get me started on the psychoactives and how it's the legal ones that cause most of the problems!

Susan

 

[Piel]

Hi Susan. As someone who takes both Prednisone and Lasix for vasculits you are preaching to the choir here. I am just interested in a discussion to see what others opinions on this are.

 

[chuckm]

chuckm - I would disagree with the cortisone being a performance enhancing substance... If you're a skater with a sprained ankle who needs the pain gone long enough to be thrown 20 feet in the air - then thats performance enhancing... I'm sure who ever came in second would probably agree...

A cortisone injection wouldn't take away the pain, just reduce the inflammation. A locally injected numbing agent like lidocaine or novicaine would take away the pain, but it also would make pairs skating even more dangerous than it is under normal conditions, because it takes away all sensation from the affected area.

I remember Tonya Harding using an inhaler for her asthma, but I assume that was before the drug list was updated... was Tonya's inhaler the cause of the ban? As an asthmatic myself, I don't remember ever feeling stronger or having "enhanced permance" unless breathing is considered a bad thing...

It's possible to use an inhaler that doesn't contain a banned substance. But some of the more effective inhalers usually do contain some sort of ephedrine compound that acts as a stimulant.

I never felt that sorry for Tonya Harding. She was a heavy smoker, and never made any attempt to quit. If she was that concerned about her asthma, she wouldn't have kept smoking.

But at its heart, isn't that the idea behind banning certain substances?? That psychotic need to win, regardless, that makes athletes do all kinds of stuf to their bodies for an added advantange? I just never see how the distinctions are made... breathing is bad but numb limbs that have tremendous forces applied is ok... I'm not the brightest person on the planet, but sometimes these rules don't seem to be based in common sense... But since I can't breath half the time, have a habit of tripping over stuff and have a bad back despite my insistance on wearing 3 inch heels most days - I should just be glad that inhalers and vicodine aren't banned in nonprofit... teehee...

I do not believe that for most athletes, the need to win is psychotic. The ones that cheat by using banned drugs are the ones who know that if they competed clean, they probably wouldn't win. IMO, winning by cheating can't be anywhere near as satisfying as winning on one's own ability and hard work.