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[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
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More evidence suggests link between BALCO steroid, Greek sprinters
By ELLIOTT ALMOND and PETE CAREY SAN JOSE, Calif. - More evidence from the BALCO Laboratories case suggests that Greek sprint stars Kostas Kenteris and Ekaterini Thanou used the previously undetectable steroid THG. An e-mail included in papers filed Friday by the government discusses the Greeks' access to the drug at the center of sport's biggest drug scandal. Kenteris and his former coach have previously denied using THG or being involved with BALCO. The government evidence surfaces as the sprinters await word whether they will be prosecuted in Greece for faking a motorcycle accident. That was part of a bizarre string of events after they missed drug tests on the eve of the 2004 Summer Olympics. The Greeks' names appear in a document filed to rebut to a defense motion alleging Internal Revenue Service agent Jeff Novitzky fabricated parts of an interview last December with track coach Ken McDaniel and sprinter Lakiesha Givens. The government included an e-mail in which BALCO founder Victor Conte Jr. discussed ``rocket fuel,'' which authorities say was a moniker for THG. The drug also allegedly was called `the clear.'' In another exchange, McDaniel e-mailed Conte on Aug. 9, 2002, according to the documents, and apparently made a reference to British sprinter Dwain Chambers, who was banned from competition after testing positive for THG. In the message, McDaniel wrote:
I saw where Kederis just posted 19.85 today, this guy is pretty talented. Do you know anything about him. I would
like to see Chambers run another 200m before the season is over I feel w/ his new strength he can go 20 flat this year
for sure.
Take care, Conte allegedly replied with the subject header: ``Re: Konstadinos Kederis??'' It read:
``Dear Kenny: Kenderis is using the same agents as Dwain and the others in our group. both Kenderis and
Thanou have access to both agents. Does it make sense now? Investigators allege the e-mail refers to THG and a testosterone cream. Other evidence in the case suggests Conte's information about the Greeks might be secondhand. For example, in another e-mail from August 2002 seen by the Mercury News, Conte asks an unidentified person, Any idea how to inform the Greek coach to stop using the clear because they are now onto it? While the Greeks have denied links to BALCO, they have been unable to distance themselves from the case involving the Burlingame nutrition company. When the government indicted Conte and three other Bay Area men in February for distributing illegal drugs and money laundering, prosecutors unsealed an affidavit that included an e-mail from Conte discussing Greek athletes. It read: We might also want to somehow get this information to the coach for the Greek athletes REDACTED and REDACTED so that nobody tests positive. They seem to be ready to charge athletes on a `related substances' charge. The redacted names are those of Kenteris and Thanou, two sources told the Mercury News in August. The reference to the Greek coach is to Christos Tsekos, said the sources, who had read the e-mail. When it was revealed that the Greeks missed drug tests last summer, the controversy overshadowed the opening of the Summer Olympics. Kenteris, who won the 200 meters at the Sydney Games, and Thanou, the 100 silver medalist, were expected to be Greece's biggest stars in Athens. Neither competed after questions surfaced about the veracity of the motorcycle accident and subsequent stay in a hospital. Greek authorities launched a criminal investigation after police found no witnesses to the accident. Defense attorneys in the BALCO case alleged last month that Novitzky flew to Athens during the Olympics to share evidence with Greek authorities investigating the sprinters. They based the claim on newspaper reports and Greek government officials who said they had met with U.S. law enforcement officials. Novitzky wrote in his declaration that he never met with any Greek official nor has he ever visited Greece. On Monday, Kenteris spoke publicly about the case for the first time, telling Greek television that he would welcome charges against him. ``A prosecution means that the case will be cleared,'' he said. ``It was irresponsible to get on the bike, but I went crazy when I found out that I had supposedly missed a doping test and I wanted to rush to the Olympic village. I had never been notified, and suddenly people were saying I could be thrown out of the Games. The accident did occur.'' The case has continued to haunt Greeks in the aftermath of the successful Olympics. Last month, a key witness against the sprinters was stabbed and beaten with crowbars while leaving an Athens radio station. Philippos Syrigos, a sports editor at the Athens daily Eleftherotypia, was treated and released from a hospital. |
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