I have blogged several times about the campaign for the full publication of trials results. However, a recent story about sharing confidential data caught my eye. This time, the catalyst was not campaigner pressure or regulatory change, but the Winter Olympics…
The fight against doping in sport has taken an interesting turn as the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) has enlisted the help of some of the biggest names in pharma research to help anticipate the latest batch of illicit performance enhancers. Such co-operation is not new but is taking place on an unprecedented scale this year.
Companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen and Roche are sharing data on pre-launch drugs that would previously have been considered confidential to help the WADA stay ahead of cheats. Athletes are moving away from easy to detect drugs like steroids to more obscure ones in an effort to avoid detection.
Companies with pipeline drugs that could be used to build muscle, boost endurance or speed recovery are voluntarily passing over information. Some of these substances were never even commercially launched, for example GlaxoSmithKline’s GW501516 which was shown to lower fat, enhance muscle and improve endurance in rats.
Glaxo dropped research after animal studies that suggested links to tumours in multiple organs. However, this was not enough to deter the five cyclists caught using the drug by the WADA in March last year. The drug is still promoted online in doping forums.
There are numerous other examples – including drugs that increase the body’s capacity to store oxygen. Back in my day, athletes just used to train at high altitudes to build up their red blood cell counts. But of course this is entirely legal, albeit out of the question for the poorer nations.
Just two days ago, a Lithuanian biathlete admitted to doping at the Winter Olympics, adding to the two competitors already caught taking prohibited substances. In an example of unconscious irony – the story was run alongside several ads promising the chance to “get ripped” and “build muscle fast.”
We live in a strange world.
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