Anyone cheating will get caught, Professor Cowan warns

Professor David Cowan has warned that anyone cheating at the London 2012 Olympics will get caught, as he initiates the largest drug screening of athletes ever to take place at the games, The Sun has reported.

Some 5,000 urine and blood samples will be taken throughout the summer, which eclipses the 3,667 in Beijing. There will also be another 1,250 at the Paralympics. Professor David Cowan, who heads the most advanced drugs testing system ever, warned: "If you cheat you won’t make gold. Anyone cheating will get caught."

There have been several high-profile cases of cheats at the Olympics which has cast doubt into the minds of many spectators over the authenticity of results. However, Professor Cowan is looking to reassure audiences this year that the system is robust enough to catch any cheats, with all medallists to be tested in the new designer laboratories.

One test that will get particular attention is the Human Growth Hormone. In previous games the hormone could only be detected if used just before a test, but this summer there is new laboratory equipment which will make the hormone show up even if it is taken days before the event.

One in two athletes and every medallist will be tested this year, with results covering 240 banned substances obtainable within 24 hours from the all-day every-day lab. Professor Cowan adds: "It would be foolish to say these Games will be drug-free but my advice to athletes is this — if they take the risk they will get caught.

"With 50 per cent of the athletes being tested, anybody who does try to cheat stands a good chance of detection."

Testing of British athletes has been very strict of late, with UK anti-doping rules stating that athletes can be tested 365 days a year, with no notice. However, these strict regulations don't apply to all countries, which is why testing must be expansive and strict.

Posted by Fiona Griffiths