Head of Doping Commission At World University Games Denies Claim of Positive Tests

Organizers expect to conduct more than 600 tests at the World University Games

Aug. 15, 2007

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - The head of the medical commission at the World University Games denied an earlier statement about positive doping tests at the event.

Dr. Lawrence Rink said at a news conference Wednesday that "to date, we have absolutely completed 276 tests and I am happy to report that all tests to date are negative."

A day earlier, Rink said there had been positive drug tests, but would not elaborate on how many athletes or identify them, saying the process would have to be completed with provision for possible appeals.

"Now, for my opinion I understand that because the process is so technical, there may be some misunderstanding, but again I repeat that there is no positive test. There is clearly no scandal," Rink said Wednesday. "The laboratory we are using here is recognized as one of the best in the world."

He said organizers expect to conduct more than 600 tests at the World University Games, which end Saturday. The games are open to students ages 17 to 28 who attend school or have not been out of college or its equivalent for more than a year.

"It's only after the appeal process, which can take up to one week to three months - in some instances if there is a court involved, it might take longer - can we then truly be sure if it's a positive test."

Rink retracted his earlier statement to The Associated Press in a telephone call Wednesday. Rink is chairman of the medical commission for the International University Sports Federation.

"The final results were negative," he told The AP ahead of the news conference. "There could have been false positives earlier and in those questionable cases, we do more sensitive tests. The fact is at the end they were all negative tests. I should not have said anything at all."

At the news conference, Rink said the details of the cases could only be made public after the process is completed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.