That’s because they were only asked to evaluate if the defensive’s narrative could be plausible.
I don't agree with that statement:
Professor Cowan:
"No evidence to support any other scenario" [1]
Tribunal:
"The Tribunal concludes that non of them has suggested that the Player's explanation is not consistent with the scientific analysis" [2]
Possibly diuretics, but I think they are screened as well (as you mentioned) at least indirectly by examining the osmolality of urine. But if they were used earlier to increase the elimination of a larger dose of clostebolol they might go under the radar.
Diuretics are indeed prohibited as well and as the study showed, they are fully deteceted. Due to the high sensitivy of the current day methods, even Diuretics are not enough as conlcuded by that other research "is no longer a problem". This from a study he himself posted here.
Your duel is getting ridiculous. @Tennis Devolution provided some great insights here, and bypassing them just by referring to official general statements about the matter isn’t very productive.
I agree that it's rediciolous. But here are two points to consider:
- The 'other' side is claiming intentional or explicit PED or at the very least arguing that Sinner story is BS - or more BS than the conclusions drawn by the Tribunal, etc etc yet cannot bring anything to the table to support such a conclusion in this case. Ultimately, the report is all we have now, but I do value the statements by the experts, as they are some of the world leading doping experts, so all arguments on microdosing, or masking or whatnot has been considered (as evident by statements as posted above - especially [2] shows that they were asked to consider all options).
- As far as insights, he's skating around the issues. He maintains for example that by smart cycling, detection can be evaded. I asked how that cycling works. His response was diuretics (which has nothing to do with timing). Or other chemicals to hide. My question was which chemicals, to which he came up with 'designer drugs' and studies on LSD. Because 'drugs are drugs' <= his litteral quote). He screams 'science' and in the same breath asks us to apply the conclusions made on LSD on Clostebol and as any scientist will tell you, can can't draw such conclusions in the detail required. Yes, drugs are drugs, but each have their own property, interactions etc etc, so drawing any conclusion from one to another without actual research is not only stupid, non scientific practice, if it was actually done that way it would be dangerous. Same goes for something like microdosing, clenbuterol microdosing is possible for example, but that doesn't mean that you can 1 on 1 apply it to Clostebol. My question was specific on microdosing, hiding or cycling Clostebol and he has not answered that. I maintain that you cannot compare Clostebol to LSD or Clenbuterol or ... or any other and if you want to prove methodology on each type of PED, you'll need AT LEAST be in the same family of drug. In this case, Clostebol being weak, there may be no performance enhancing properties left when microdosing compared to for example Dimethyltrienolone. Also, different variations leave different metabolites, so the metabolites found in this case confirm a specific form of Clostebol.
There is no doubt that there are theoretical, actual and practical cases in the past of
- Microdosing
- PED masking
- Cycling on evading drug testing.
- 'designer' drugs relating to PEDs.
They are well documented. They dealt with quite a range of different PEDs.
And he is right on the generics of these things - however, he can't apply them to this particular case in any meaningful way other than a generic statement that 'the doping industry is always ahead of the anti doping" or something to that effect, or that "Drugs are Drugs".
My whole point is that due to high level testing, unannounced testing protocols that can happen every day, the involvement requirered forcreating new designer drugs, the quality of testing, the likelyhood of any of this applying to Sinner right now is extremely small.
And maybe the doping industry is ahead of the antidoping community, but that difference will always be marginal. As you can see, for example, the diuretics argument was already put to bed years ago.
Add to this the possible reputational and monetary damage of intentional doping, the substance in question (clostebol - a weak AAS), the studies that have been done on accidental exposure on Clostebol, the arguments for Sinner are so far A LOT ahead of the arugments against him.
[1]
https://www.itia.tennis/media/yzgd3xoz/240819-itia-v-sinner.pdf [65]
[2]
https://www.itia.tennis/media/yzgd3xoz/240819-itia-v-sinner.pdf [110]