Statistical data collected during urine collection for doping control at the Athens 2004 olympic games and recommendations to improve the urine collection process

The purpose of this study is to present for the first time statistical data on several parameters of urine sample collection for doping control, illustrate statistically significant correlations and introduce recommendations based on the findings in order to improve the urine collection process. A total of 2863 urine samples were collected (58.0% from male athletes, 42.0% from female athletes. On average, 96 urine samples were collected and analysed daily. The maximum number of samples collected and analysed was on 21st August 2004, with 222 urine samples. Several parameters of urine collection have been evaluated, such as time needed for athletes to wait in the Doping Control Station (DCS) (average 23.7 min), total time elapsed between notification and sample collection (average 71.6 min), average volume of sample collected (125 ± 27.4 ml) and average specific gravity of urine sample (1.016 ± 0.008). Positive correlation between total time elapsed between notification and sample collection and the urine volume produced by the athlete has been found (r=0.175, p=0.01). Sport is also found to strongly affect the sample collection parameters. Process to collect additional (2.97% of the total urine samples) and partial samples (12.0% of the total urine samples is also evaluated. A positive correlation is found between the specific gravity of the first and the additional urine sample (r=0.261, p=0.05). In addition, 27.5% of the additional samples presented the same specific gravity with the first urine collection and 16.5% less than the original. All the above seriously suggest a modification of the procedure for collecting an additional sample. The Doping Control Official Record (DCOR) included for the first time a document requesting the Athlete's permission to use his sample after the analytical procedure had been concluded for research purposes without consequences. 69.7% of the athletes tested consented. In conclusion, the results showed that there were no significant problems with the collection process and both the IOC representatives and the International Federations' trusted the Doping Control Officers (DCOs) of the Athens 2004 Organising Committee, since in only 18.3% and 36.3% of the tests, respectively, they actually attended and overviewed the procedure. ©PHARMAKON-Press

Medication Use by Athletes at the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games

Objective: To gather data and examine the use by elite Olympic athletes of food supplements and pharmaceutical preparations in total and per sport, country, and gender. Design: Survey study. Setting: Athens 2004 Olympic Games (OG). Participants: Data from 2 sources were collected: athletes' declaration of medications/supplements intake recorded on the Doping Control Official Record during sample collection for doping control, and athletes' application forms for granting of a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) and through the abbreviated TUE process (aTUE). Main Outcome Measures: Classification of declared food supplements according to the active ingredient and medications according to therapeutic actions and active compounds. Resuits: 24.3% of the athletes tested for doping control declared no use of medications or food supplements. rood supplements (45.3%) continue to be popular, with vitamins (43.2%) and proteins/aminoacids (13.9%) in power sports being most widely used. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents and analgesics were also commonly used by athletes (11.1% and 3.7%, respectively). The use of the hemoderivative actovegin and several nonprohibited anabolic preparations are discussed. The prevalence of medication use for asthma and the dangers of drug interactions are also presented. Laboratory analysis data reveal that of the aTUEs received For inhaled glucocorticosteroids, only budesonide was detectable in significant percentage (10.0%). Only 6.5% of the 445 athletes approved to inhale beta(2)-agonists led to all adverse analytical finding. Conclusions: This review demonstrates that overuse of food supplements was slightly reduced compared to previous OGs and a more rational approach to the use of medication is being adopted

Summary and agreement statement of the 2nd International Conference on Concussion in Sport, Prague 2004

In November 2001, the 1st International Symposium on Concussion in Sport was held in Vienna, Austria to provide recommendations for the improvement of safety and health of athletes who suffer concussive injuries in ice hockey, football (soccer), and other sports. The 2nd International Symposium on Concussion in Sport was organised by the same group and held in Prague, Czech Republic in November 2004. It resulted in a revision and update of the Vienna consensus recommendations, which are presented here

Sudden cardiac death in athletes: the Lausanne Recommendations

OBJECTIVES: This study reports on sudden cardiac death (SCD) in sport in the literature and aims at achieving a generally acceptable preparticipation screening protocol (PPSP) endorsed by the consensus meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). BACKGROUND: The sudden death of athletes under 35 years engaged in competitive sports is a well-known occurrence; the incidence is higher in athletes (approximately 2/100,000 per year) than in non-athletes (2.5 : 1), and the cause is cardiovascular in over 90%. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature identified causes of SCD, sex, age, underlying cardiac disease and the type of sport and PPSP in use. Methods necessary to detect pre-existing cardiac abnormalities are discussed to formulate a PPSP for the Medical Commission of the IOC. RESULTS: SCD occurred in 1101 (1966-2004) reported cases in athletes under 35 years, 50% had congenital anatomical heart disease and cardiomyopathies and 10% had early-onset atherosclerotic heart disease. Forty percent occurred in athletes under 18 years, 33% under 16 years; the female/male ratio was 1/9. SCD was reported in almost all sports; most frequently involved were soccer (30%), basketball (25%) and running (15%). The PPSP were of varying quality and content. The IOC consensus meeting accepted the proposed Lausanne Recommendations based on this research and expert opinions (http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_886.pdf). CONCLUSION: SCD occurs more frequently in young athletes, even those under the age of 18 years, than expected and is predominantly caused by pre-existing congenital cardiac abnormalities. Premature atherosclerotic disease forms another important cause in these young adults. A generally acceptable PPSP has been achieved by the IOC's acceptance of the Lausanne Recommendations

Prevalence of and factors associated with osteoarthritis and pain in retired Olympians compared with the general population: part 2 – the spine and upper limb

Objectives(1) To determine the prevalence of spine and upper limb osteoarthritis (OA) and pain in retired Olympians; (2) identify risk factors associated with their occurrence and (3) compare with a sample of the general population.Methods3357 retired Olympians (44.7 years) and 1735 general population controls (40.5 years) completed a cross-sectional survey. The survey captured demographics, general health, self-reported physician-diagnosed OA, current joint/region pain and significant injury (lasting ≥1 month). Adjusted ORs (aORs) compared retired Olympians and the general population.ResultsOverall, 40% of retired Olympians reported experiencing current joint pain. The prevalence of lumbar spine pain was 19.3% and shoulder pain 7.4%, with lumbar spine and shoulder OA 5.7% and 2.4%, respectively. Injury was associated with increased odds (aOR, 95% CI) of OA and pain at the lumbar spine (OA=5.59, 4.01 to 7.78; pain=4.90, 3.97 to 6.05), cervical spine (OA=17.83, 1.02 to 31.14; pain=9.41, 6.32 to 14.01) and shoulder (OA=4.91, 3.03 to 7.96; pain=6.04, 4.55 to 8.03) in retired Olympians. While the odds of OA did not differ between Olympians and the general population, the odds of lumbar spine pain (1.44, 1.20 to 1.73), the odds of shoulder OA after prior shoulder injury (2.64, 1.01 to 6.90) and the odds of cervical spine OA in female Olympians (2.02, 1.06 to 3.87) were all higher for Olympians compared with controls.ConclusionsOne in five retired Olympians reported experiencing current lumbar spine pain. Injury was associated with lumbar spine, cervical spine and shoulder OA and pain for Olympians. Although overall OA odds did not differ, after adjustment for recognised risk factors, Olympians were more likely to have lumbar spine pain and shoulder OA after shoulder injury, than the general population.</jats:sec