Muyters convinces anti-doping agency to change approach

After discussions with Flemish sports minister Philippe Muyters, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has changed its guidelines for the testing of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the minister has announced. 

Muyters approached WADA after Belgian decathlete Thomas Van der Plaetsen (pictured) was suspended in September last year as a result of a high level of hCG found in his blood. The hCG hormone is produced by the placenta and usually only found in pregnant women. The hormone, thought to have performance-enhancing properties, is banned by WADA.  

The hormone, however, can be present in certain forms of testicle cancer. “Thomas Van der Plaetsen was unfortunately in that situation and was, therefore, wrongly accused of doping,” Muyters said.

WADA has now changed its rules so the situation cannot happen again. Not only have the techniques of analysis been refined, Muyters said, but there will no longer be a preventive suspension in hCG cases, until the athlete in question has been examined by a physician.