BHA holding fire on new test for EPO variant Cera; Racing not following lead of IOC and cycling.

Byline: By Graham Green

THE BHA is refusing to be rushed into a decision over whether to follow the lead of other sporting bodies that have stepped up the battle against drug cheats by retesting blood samples for a new variant of the banned substance EPO.

The cycling world has been plunged into a crisis over the past few weeks with four of this year's Tour de France riders, including King of the Mountains winner Bernhard Kohl, failing the new test for the latest variant of EPO, known as Cera, while the International Olympic Committee has ordered the retesting of up to 1,000 blood samples taken from athletes at this summer's Beijing games in China.

The BHA has been freezing samples taken from horses since 2005, but retesting would be an expensive exercise. The IOC faces a six-figure bill for its batch of tests, and racing would incur similar costs if it takes the same route.

Paul Struthers, the BHA's media relations manager, said: "It is too early so say whether we will introduce this new test.

"We are constantly reviewing the testing needs and methods we use with changing priorities and risks in mind."

Since early 2002 there has been an official policy of paying unannounced stable visits, blood testing a trainer's horses and also taking blood samples from runners on random racedays. That regime was introduced in the wake of a claim by trainer Charlie Mann that EPO - a performanceenhancing drug that increases stamina by boosting the number of red blood cells - was being widely employed in British racing.

EPO has not been found in tests in Britain and, while testing has revealed its use in American racing, the fear remains that the dopers use newer substances for which tests take time to develop.

The dopers' desire to stay one step ahead of the authorities has led to the controversy over Cera, the third-generation variant of EPO. Though chemically similar to EPO, Cera (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator) has a long-lasting effect without repeated dosing.

Cera was created by a Swiss company, Roche Holding AG, and is marketed as an aid to those suffering from kidney disease and anaemia. It remains in the system three times longer than EPO, making it easier to detect once a test is derived.

Roche worked with the World Anti-Doping Agency for four years, providing data and samples to aid development of the new test, which was validated after the Olympic Games ended in August.

The BHA has not yet opted to retest samples held in cold storage - a practice adopted with a view to keeping pace with scientific advances and the introduction of new tests - but racing scientists are keeping abreast of the latest developments.

Struthers added: "EPO is a prohibited substance under the rules of racing and we have never had a horse test positive for it.

"Tim Morris and Lynn Hillier from our veterinary team last week attended the Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians in Turkey, which brings together international racing authorities and testing laboratories every two years, and EPO is one item that has been discussed."

Morris and Hillier returned from the conference having taken part in discussions about retrospective tests for all banned drugs, not just Cera.

"Cera was discussed," said Struthers yesterday, "but we have not changed our position. There is no intelligence suggesting Cera is being used but we keep these issues under review. I understand there are lots of variants of EPO and Cera is one of those for which the cycling authorities have been able to test."