Cuban Medicals, Keeping Sports Clean Advance

No scholar can tell you unequivocally when doping began. But from students to astronauts, the word is synonymous with foul play, and it is most closely linked to the world of sports because of the unscrupulous use of doping by some for an easy profit.

Specialists from the world scientific community like Cuba's Dr. Mario Granda are alert to discover cheaters. We went to ask him about it.

-Which are the latest most shocking doping cases?
'There are several. The most important are from the 'Oil for drugs' operation in Italy and the 'Operacion Puerto' in Spain, both related to doping networks in which cyclists were mainly involved. There is also the California BALCO Laboratories scandal with the design anabolic, Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) that was undetectable by anti-doping laboratories for years. In addition we have Marion Jones' confession which, after seven years of suspicion, caused her to lose five medals obtained in the Sydney Olympic Games.

'The Mitchell report (report to the US Baseball Commissioner from an independent investigation into the illegal use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances by players in major league baseball) disclosed the use of anabolic steroids and other substances in no less than 85 professional baseball players in the United States, among which were, just to name a few, Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Roger Clemens. The document refers to a major league doping culture caused by a market demanding new records and a sports industry turning over millions of dollars by breaking the law and sports policy.'