Doping Scandal Widens in Italy
October 4, 1998 - 0:0
ROME Twenty-four players of first-division soccer team AC Parma were reported Friday to have shown altered blood values in doping tests in July - a circumstance that could indicate the use of the banned drug epo. According to reports published Friday, virtually all Parma players had abnormally high levels of red blood cells. That is considered a health risk and may indicate the use of epo, a synthetic hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells.
Epo, or erythropoietin, boosts oxygen absorption in the bloodstream. It is the same substance that several cyclists in the Tour de France are alleged to have taken. Fabio Cannavaro, an Italian national team defender, was indicated by news reports as the only Parma player not involved in the scandal. Results of the tests were found in the medical records of Dr. Alberto Bargossi, who works with Parma. Bologna prosecutor Alberto Spinosa, who is conducing a doping investigation, ordered his office searched.
France's Le Soir newspaper quoted Daniel Bravo, who played for Parma in 1996-97, as saying that Parma players were given injections on match days. Players were told they were being given vitamins, Le Soir quoted him as saying, in an interview to be published Saturday. We were told they were vitamins,'' Bravo reportedly said. But if you were a substitute you never had to take them.'' One investigation, done for the Olympic Committee's Doping Commission, ended in August without finding evidence of illegal drug use, but did find that the use of legal muscle-builders is widespread.
On Thursday, the chief administrator of the lab that allegedly covered up a failed test by a soccer player was fired. Earlier this week, the scandal led Mario Pescante to announce his resignation as president of the Italian Olympic Committe. The committee oversees all sports - amateur and professional - in Italy. As head of the committee, Pescante became a target for blame when Italian media reported that sports authorities were failing to run all the required doping tests on pro soccer leag (AP)
Epo, or erythropoietin, boosts oxygen absorption in the bloodstream. It is the same substance that several cyclists in the Tour de France are alleged to have taken. Fabio Cannavaro, an Italian national team defender, was indicated by news reports as the only Parma player not involved in the scandal. Results of the tests were found in the medical records of Dr. Alberto Bargossi, who works with Parma. Bologna prosecutor Alberto Spinosa, who is conducing a doping investigation, ordered his office searched.
France's Le Soir newspaper quoted Daniel Bravo, who played for Parma in 1996-97, as saying that Parma players were given injections on match days. Players were told they were being given vitamins, Le Soir quoted him as saying, in an interview to be published Saturday. We were told they were vitamins,'' Bravo reportedly said. But if you were a substitute you never had to take them.'' One investigation, done for the Olympic Committee's Doping Commission, ended in August without finding evidence of illegal drug use, but did find that the use of legal muscle-builders is widespread.
On Thursday, the chief administrator of the lab that allegedly covered up a failed test by a soccer player was fired. Earlier this week, the scandal led Mario Pescante to announce his resignation as president of the Italian Olympic Committe. The committee oversees all sports - amateur and professional - in Italy. As head of the committee, Pescante became a target for blame when Italian media reported that sports authorities were failing to run all the required doping tests on pro soccer leag (AP)