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| Dominik Meichtry © Getty Images |
Nine of Switzerland's top swimmers will take part in a special anti-doping programme as part of their preparations for the 2012
London Olympics.
The Swiss swimming federation said on Friday that the athletes will
give regular blood and urine samples for three years so that
scientists can analyse their individual body chemistry for traces
of banned drugs and blood treatments.
Steffen Liess, the federation's performance director, said
doping was a burning issue in swimming because FINA did not yet
operate a biological passport program.
"Swiss Swimming is showing that we can actively work against
doping instead of just satisfying ourselves by saying we are
clean," Liess said in a statement.
Tests in the "Clean Water" campaign will be done by the World
Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory in Lausanne. It helped the
International Cycling Union set up a pioneering passport project
that monitors 850 professional riders.
The swimming scheme is supported by the Swiss anti-doping agency
and partly funded by biotechnology firm Amgen.
"It's necessary to keep up with international developments in
the fight against doping," said Matthias Kamber, director of
Anti-Doping Switzerland. "What's more, we'll have an exchange of
scientific experience."
Switzerland did not win any medals in the 34 swimming events at
the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
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