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STATEMENT BY RICHARD INGS - 31 August 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for your attendance here this afternoon.

I want to announce today that ASADA has closed its examination of a sample provided by Ian Thorpe on 29 May 2006.

The ASADA Members determined on 29 August 2007 that the evidence available does not indicate the use of performance enhancing substances by Mr Thorpe and that there is no case for Mr Thorpe to answer. 

Mr Thorpe has been advised of ASADA’s decision.  Mr Thorpe is aware that ASADA is making this announcement today and is happy for us to do so.

ASADA’s comprehensive review included an examination of the athlete’s recent test history and athlete supplied medical documentation, in line with the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Code.

ASADA sought expert medical and scientific opinion from the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC); the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratories in both Sydney, Australia and Montreal, Canada; and the ANZAC Research Institute in Sydney. 

Experts from these internationally respected organisations were unanimous in their opinion that there was no evidence of the use of performance enhancing substances by Mr Thorpe.

ASADA is mindful that questions have been asked about the time taken to review this matter.  The time taken is simply a function of the scientific and medical complexities involved, ASADA’s processes in line with the WADA Code and under our governing legislation, and ASADA’s commitment to guarantee fair and due process to all athletes.

ASADA was absolutely determined to ensure that the results of our examination would leave no room for doubt.

This matter began on 29 May 2006 when Mr Thorpe provided a sample that was reported to ASADA with a testosterone/epitestosterone ratio or T/E ratio of between 4 and 6:1 and an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) reading indicating that the testosterone was natural in origin. That report was received by ASADA on 19 June 2006.

WADA accredited laboratories are required to report any T/E ratio greater than 4:1 for further examination.

The report of a slightly elevated T/E ratio is commonplace in sport.  WADA statistics indicate that WADA accredited laboratories world-wide reported over 1,100 elevated T/E ratios in 2006, of which to date only 2% have been determined to be doping violations.

However the sample was also reported to contain an unusual level of leutinizing hormone which is much less common. 

Leutinizing hormone could be used to elevate the level of naturally occurring testosterone in the body and therefore the matter required comprehensive further examination.

At this point there was no suggestion that the sample constituted an adverse analytical finding or that the athlete had committed an anti-doping rule violation. However, in line with the WADA Code and our governing legislation, ASADA undertook a series of steps to thoroughly examine the matter.

This process commenced with the conducting of a series of no-notice follow-up tests between July 2006 and October 2006 in line with the WADA Code

A comprehensive review of that material was then undertaken by ASADA’s medical and scientific experts. 

Given the unusual nature of these results, ASADA decided on 28 March 2007 to request medical information from Mr. Thorpe that may be relevant to the matter.

Mr. Thorpe provided submissions to ASADA on 13 June 2007 and 15 August 2007.

ASADA then sought final expert medical and scientific opinion prior to reaching a decision on this matter on 29 August 2007.

ASADA’s decision is that the evidence does not indicate the use of performance enhancing substances by Mr Thorpe.

ASADA now considers the matter closed.

I would like to thank Mr. Thorpe for his full and supportive cooperation. 

I would also like to thank him for agreeing to disclose the outcome of the review process
I stress that all other information concerning this matter remains confidential.

Thank you, I will now take your questions…

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