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French skater Julien Despaux says a new test has cleared him of doping at the 2007 World Championships in Cali, Colombia. Despaux, who won three silver medals in Cali, says the test shows that the high ratio of testosterone found in his urine occurred naturally and was not the result of steroids. "I hope you will ask for confirmation of this from FIRS (the Federation International of Roller Sports)," Despaux said in an email to the Inline Planet.
Julien Despaux (left) on the podium in Cali with Joey Mantia (center) and Gregorio Duggento during the awards ceremony for the 300 meters. So far, federation officials have not replied to requests for confirmation. Despaux, 22, says an elevated ratio of testosterone was found in a T/E analysis of urine he provided at Cali. The test measures the ratio of two hormones, testosterone and epitestosterone. The body produces both hormones naturally, but some athletes — in violation of international sports rules — take artificial testosterone supplements to boost their performance. A T/E ration above 4 is considered an "adverse analytical finding" and reported to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). In cases where an elevated ratio is found, the Anti-Doping Organization orders a second test. This test, an isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), reveals whether the testosterone is naturally occurring or artificial.
Despaux says his T/E ratio was 6.9, but that his IRMS test cleared him of doping. "The complementary IRMS analysis has confirmed that the testosterone is only natural." He said he received confirmation of the report Thursday. Thursday was also the day that FIRS vice president Carlos Orlando Ferreira of Colombia announced Despaux's T/E ratio. Despaux says an endocrinologist told him that his testosterone ratio was high because his body produces a relatively small amount of epitestosterone. "It seems to happen to one percent of people," he said. Earlier Story • French Skater Accused of Doping Related Reading
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Copyright © 2007 by Robert Burnson | ||||||||||||||
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