CSC'S Rasmus Damsgaard Responds
Rasmus Damsgaard. MD, PhD responds to media reports about the Team CSC anti-doping program

The last couple of days have seen various media carrying the news that two riders at Team CSC had been placed under observation by the Team CSC anti-doping programme led by Dr. Rasmus Damsgaard due to irregularities in their test results. Unfortunately, some of those reports were vague about the consequences of these irregularities, a problem that Damsgaard has now taken the time to adress.

As was also originally stated by Rasmus Damsgaard (a statement that seems to have gotten lost in translation), all tests results which showed even the slightest irregularity were followed up by further rigorous out of competition tests. All of these tests have turned out negative, and Damsgaard's conclusion is that the small irregularities are a result of physiological factors. As a result, neither of the riders reported as being under "special observation" as a consequence of irregularities are under any form of suspicion.

Damsgaard goes on to summarize some of the conditions under which the Team CSC anti-doping program works. The 28 Team CSC riders have by now been submitted to more than 400 tests, all unannounced and out of competition. This includes testing for EPO, blood transfusions, human growth hormone, hemoglobin based oxygen carriers, and the so-called total hemoglobin test which is being developed as a future method for detecting blood manipulation. All of the urine tests are first received and analyzed by the UCI and WADA, before they are submitted to further analysis at Department Z, Bispebjerg Hospital (Rasmus Damsgaard's department).

As originally planned, Team CSC will soon be announcing all of the results from the anti-doping program to date. At that time, we shall hopefully gain additional insight into what is without a doubt one of the most ambitious anti-doping initiatives in professional sports to date.

The Team CSC Anti-doping program:
Some comments concerning recent misunderstandings in the press.
Due to various misunderstandings in recent media outlets, I feel the need to clarify a number of things.

It has been reported, that two riders have shown abnormal values in their test results and due to this, these two riders were under special observation. This is completely false. All values showing even minimal fluctuations have been followed up by further rigorous out of competition tests. These tests have all shown negative results and all variations in the values can be considered physiological and perfectly normal.

My job is to monitor, not two, but all the 28 Team CSC riders under the most meticulous anti-doping program in the history of professional sport. This has so far prompted 400 tests using the most recent scientific methods and models.

I have to include here, that I am professionally worried that certain parts of the international media see no reason to verify, nor scrutinize various rumors rather than manipulate quotes into sensationalist headlines. I truly hope that the media is fundamentally interested in the fight against doping and this can only be done if we apply science and information based on facts.

Should any unnecessary confusion arise in the future, I will always be able to clarify. As originally planned, we will soon announce all the results of the 400 tests obtained in the Team CSC anti-doping program so far.

To sum up some relevant facts about the program in general:
· The Team CSC Anti-doping program is certified by the UCI and works under the WADA code
· All the tests are taken unannounced and out of competition.
· All urine test results will be received and analyzed by the UCI and WADA before they will be further interpreted by Dept. Z, Bispebjerg Hospital in Copenhagen.
· The program includes testing for EPO, blood transfusions, human growth hormone, hemoglobin based oxygen carriers, and the so-called total hemoglobin test that in the future may detect any blood manipulation.

Rasmus Damsgaard. MD, PhD
Bispebjerg Hospital