Anti-Doping officials modify suspension for Ina - AP Article

[Mazurka Girl]

Latest update hot off the press :!:

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/016/sports/Anti_Doping_officials_modify_s:.shtml

[Emilieanne]

Questions: Do representatives of the USADA carry valid identification when going to an athlete's home? What is to prevent them from coming in the middle of the night?

If someone out there knows the answers to these two questions, please enlighten me and anyone else.

Many thanks.

[pittypat]

With the completely sorry state of U.S. Pairs this season, the USFSA has shot itself (and the U.S.) in the foot by banning Ina.

I agree that athletes must be tested for illegal drugs but it seems to me that this incident was mishandled from the start. Too bad. Without I/Z, it will be a very long time before the U.S., has any hopes at all of seeing one of our pairs team standing on podiums other than at U.S., Nationals. :x

[duane]

Originally posted by Emilieanne
Do representatives of the USADA carry valid identification when going to an athlete's home?

representatives of any agency should carry valid identification, including the USADA. reportedly, the agent who went to Ina's home had expired (?) credentials. IMO, if Ina had refused the test on this reason alone, she would have had a great defense.

What is to prevent them from coming in the middle of the night?

actually, nothing. an athlete can be asked to provide a sample at anytime of the day or night.

[Arsenette]

Something is definately fishy about this story that I always feel that something has been left out. At first I felt for Kyoko something wicked.. then all of a sudden she takes the blame? She is backpeddling in the worst way as if to say she knew what she was doing. I don't know this sounds wrong to me somehow. Granted.. the Doping Agency got caught with their pants down and I'm sure they won't ever do a stupid thing like this again. I feel bad for John Zimmerman right now.

[maruko]

Kyoko statement made it sound like the offical did not have proper creditals. But the truth as it later revealed, is that the official's credit was not invalid. The offical was still a valid representive of USADA at that time but she just moved and her ID did not reflect the current address. Let say if you just moved and haven't got time to change the address on your driver's licence(let say during the grace period), will it be fair for the police to charge you for driving without a licence, since your driver's licnese is still valid.

The thing that got me is that Kyoko found out about it only after the fact, like months later. But she made it sound like she refused the test partly due to the offical did not have a proper ID. She was in a way, using that as an excuse. That is the part I don't feel comfortable with.

Also, to answer your question, as it later revealed, Kyoko was the one who told them that same evening that she won't be home late in the night. So, her claim for the test to be totally unannounced does not hold. By the way, all drug tests are SUPPOSED to be unannounced. No one should get any preferential treatment. She has been an Olympic level athethe for more than 10 years, she should have known that well.

Originally posted by Emilieanne
Questions: Do representatives of the USADA carry valid identification when going to an athlete's home? What is to prevent them from coming in the middle of the night?

If someone out there knows the answers to these two questions, please enlighten me and anyone else.

Many thanks.