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Jari Isometsae Tests Positive - Stripped of Medal!
Sunday February 18

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In shocking circumstances at the 2001 World Championships, Jari Isometsae from Finland returned a positive doping test and has been disqualifed from the games. The 32 year old Finn, who yesterday seemed to achieve the crowning moment of his career with his first individual medal at a World Championships in front of his home crowd, was stripped of his silver medal from the pursuit race yesterday and suspended from all subsequent competitions.

The test was returned from the 15km classic on Thursday, in which Isometsae finished 4th. News was released of an irregularity in his A-sample on Saturday evening, with a statement that the B sample would be checked at 5pm today. In the subsequent press conference, the drug found in his sample was revealed to be hydroxylethyl starch (HES). This drug is used to expand the plasma volume in the blood, which subsequently lowers the hemoglobin levels. Isometsae confessed to using this drug for this purpose.

However Isometsae claimed not to use the drug to improve his performance, but to allow himself to compete. He claimed that his natural hemoglobin level was too close to the new FIS limit of 175, and that he was forced to take the drug because the hemoglobin limit was too low. He had not however discussed that he was taking the drug with the Finnish team doctor, and the Finnish team management also denied any knowledge. The random haemoglobin test prior to World Cup and World Championship competitions is used as an indirect test for EPO or other drugs that increase the red cell content of the blood. Skiers recording levels over the limit are not banned, but rather barred from starting the competition for "health" reasons.

Isometsae said that he did not believe he had cheated, or realised that taking the HES would constitute a doping offence. No appeal will be made, however the Finnish federation announced that they were not happy with the haemoglobin limit set by FIS and would take the matter further. Isometsae announced that this would be the last press conference of his life, and that he was not sure what he would do now. Skiing has been his life.

Team doctors and management knew of the positive A sample prior to the skating leg of the pursuit on Saturday, however decided not to inform Isometsae of this before the race. He first found out soon after finishing second in the pursuit behind Elofsson from Sweden. Johann Muhlegg from Spain is now awarded the silver medal, with the bronze going to Vitali Denisov from Russia. A new result list for the pursuit and for the 15km from Thursday has already been published.

Carve the Elements

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