The Gert Thys doping case has taken its final turn or has it, only time will tell?
CAS (The Court of Arbitration for Sport) ruled in favour of the South African athlete, Gert Thys, in July 2009.
Thys who for a period of time was the World's Top Marathoner based upon the athletes Top 5 marathon best times combined as well as the fact that he became the first athlete in history to run two sub 2:08 marathons in one year in 1998.
Thys began to receive the penchant of an athlete who's best runs were behind him after a string of DNF's and then he pulled the rabbit from the hat with his win at the Seoul Marathon on March 17th 2006, only to be followed by a positive dope test.
The test produced a postive sample A result for the substance 19-norandrosterone in the athlete's urine sample. A substance for which Thys did not offer an explanation after being advised by ASA on the 17th April 2006 and that he had the right to a B sample test. The athlete was provisionally suspended of all competitions on the 25th April 2006.
The B sample was tested on the 16th May 2006.Â
Then the fun began.
It was revealed that the tester of the B sample was the same tester of the A sample which is in direct violation of the procedure ISL (International Standard for Laboratories) 5.2.4.3.22Â This specific ISL 5.2.4.3.22 is no longer necessary and has been removed since 2009 however at the time it was a direct necessity and to this issue Thys objected.
ISL 5.2.4.3.22 in 2006 stated: "The 'B' sample confirmation must be performed in the same laboratory as the 'A' Sample confirmation. A different analyst must perform the 'B' analytical procedure. The same individual(s) that perform the 'A' analysis may perform instrumental set up and performance checks and verify results"
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In 2005, Ramzi improved to such a great extent that the whispers and murmers used to follow his every performance, the telltale signs of infrequent racing and then sublime performances at the Helsinki World Championships; where he achieved the 800 and 1500m Double and then Gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, had the tongues wagging.