But the World Anti-Doping Agency, which banned gene doping in 2004, believes it is a threat to the integrity of sports and is trying to develop a detection test. Gene doping is the bastardization of gene therapy, which is used to change traits in diseased people. The ‘’vector virus,'’ a little bag of protein with the gene inside, is then injected into target tissue, where it attaches to cells and dumps in the gene. To deter cheaters, WADA aims to have gene doping tests ready by 2012 for the London Olympics and for major sports leagues. read more

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Jacobs said Hardy sandwiched a positive test for the drug on July 4 between two negative samples July 1 and July 6. She was believed to have left the swim team’s Palo Alto training base for her home in Los Angeles when news of her positive test broke Wednesday. Chuck Weilgus, executive director of USA Swimming, said he was notified of Hardy’s positive sample by USADA. USADA spokeswoman Erin Hannan would neither confirm nor deny that the organization is looking into the Hardy matter but did say, “For any athlete that may have an issue arise in this period leading up to any major event, such as the Games, everyone involved would work diligently to facilitate the process as quickly as possible. Since USA Swimming set a July 21 date to name its team for Beijing, it cannot name a replacement for Hardy in the 100-meter breaststroke and 50-meter freestyle. read more

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