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CNN Live Today
Interview With Dick Patrick
Aired October 21, 2003 - 11:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Federal investigators have targeted a West Coast lab that's in the search for the source of an allegedly illegal new performance enhancing drug. Already their list of potential witnesses in the case reads like a "Who's Who" of American sports.
For more on the impact of the investigation that it might have on the sports world we want to bring in "USA Today" sports columnist Dick Patrick. Dick, good morning. Thanks for being with us.
DICK PATRICK, "USA TODAY" SPORTS COLUMNIST: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: So much to understand here. First of all, what is this thing called THG and is it illegal or not?
PATRICK: THG is a designer steroid. Means that was a compound of or derivative of the male sex testosterone that is tweaked so that it can sail under the radar screen of the testers.
It was previously undetectable, and then sometime this summer Don Catlin at the UCLA testing lab devised a test for this. And they went back and tested some samples. And now we're told there will be several positive tests from the U.S. Track and Field Championships coming out of this new development.
KAGAN: Let's talk about some names that have been coming out. You write about it in your article quite a bit today.
PATRICK: Well, separate from the positive tests there's a federal grand jury going on in San Francisco where about 40 athletes, some very big names, are going to be called to testify. Marion Jones is among them, Barry Bonds.
And what the government is looking into is not only the drug aspect of Victor Conte and his Balco Laboratories, but also their is business dealings because there could be some troubles with the IRS.
KAGAN: And I think that's one of the things that's so confusing about this that some of these athletes might have been called to testify on the financial side, yet no professional or worldwide-known athlete wants to have their name associated with anything, with any sentence that includes the word "steroid."
PATRICK: That's correct. But the juxtaposition of big names and possible drug exposes is very explosive and has led to a lot of interest and curiosity in this case. KAGAN: As we look forward, you're talking about the Track and Field Championships. If any of those athletes test positive, this will have a huge impact on who shows up for the Olympics next summer in Athens?
PATRICK: Anybody who winds up positive faces a two-year ban from competition, which would take them out of the Olympics. And if they are high-profile athletes, obviously that would change the balance of power and negatively affect the USA's medal winning chances.
KAGAN: All right. This is a developing story. If you will allow us, we'd like to bring you back as it does go on.
PATRICK: Great.
KAGAN: That would be great. Dick Patrick with "USA Today." if you're interested in more, read his column in the paper, just go online USAToday.com. Thanks, Dick. Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 21, 2003 - 11:23 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Federal investigators have targeted a West Coast lab that's in the search for the source of an allegedly illegal new performance enhancing drug. Already their list of potential witnesses in the case reads like a "Who's Who" of American sports.
For more on the impact of the investigation that it might have on the sports world we want to bring in "USA Today" sports columnist Dick Patrick. Dick, good morning. Thanks for being with us.
DICK PATRICK, "USA TODAY" SPORTS COLUMNIST: Good morning, Daryn.
KAGAN: So much to understand here. First of all, what is this thing called THG and is it illegal or not?
PATRICK: THG is a designer steroid. Means that was a compound of or derivative of the male sex testosterone that is tweaked so that it can sail under the radar screen of the testers.
It was previously undetectable, and then sometime this summer Don Catlin at the UCLA testing lab devised a test for this. And they went back and tested some samples. And now we're told there will be several positive tests from the U.S. Track and Field Championships coming out of this new development.
KAGAN: Let's talk about some names that have been coming out. You write about it in your article quite a bit today.
PATRICK: Well, separate from the positive tests there's a federal grand jury going on in San Francisco where about 40 athletes, some very big names, are going to be called to testify. Marion Jones is among them, Barry Bonds.
And what the government is looking into is not only the drug aspect of Victor Conte and his Balco Laboratories, but also their is business dealings because there could be some troubles with the IRS.
KAGAN: And I think that's one of the things that's so confusing about this that some of these athletes might have been called to testify on the financial side, yet no professional or worldwide-known athlete wants to have their name associated with anything, with any sentence that includes the word "steroid."
PATRICK: That's correct. But the juxtaposition of big names and possible drug exposes is very explosive and has led to a lot of interest and curiosity in this case. KAGAN: As we look forward, you're talking about the Track and Field Championships. If any of those athletes test positive, this will have a huge impact on who shows up for the Olympics next summer in Athens?
PATRICK: Anybody who winds up positive faces a two-year ban from competition, which would take them out of the Olympics. And if they are high-profile athletes, obviously that would change the balance of power and negatively affect the USA's medal winning chances.
KAGAN: All right. This is a developing story. If you will allow us, we'd like to bring you back as it does go on.
PATRICK: Great.
KAGAN: That would be great. Dick Patrick with "USA Today." if you're interested in more, read his column in the paper, just go online USAToday.com. Thanks, Dick. Appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
