Cocaine found in racing pigeon’s blood

A South African laboratory that tested a number of Belgian racing pigeons has found that traces of doping in samples taken from six of them. Traces of cocaine were even discovered in a sample taken from one of the prize bird. News of the discovery is given in Thursday’s editions of the dailies ‘Gazet van Antwerpen’ and ‘Het Belang van Limburg’.

The Belgian Pigeon Fanciers Association sent 20 samples taken from racing pigeons for testing to the national Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa’s laboratory in Turffontein.

The results showed traces of drugs in no fewer than six birds. Perhaps most surprisingly of all, traces of cocaine were found in one of the birds tested. The National Chairman of the Pigeon Fanciers Association Stefaan Van Bockstaele and the association's Chairman of Sport Dirk Schreel were shocked when the received the test results from Professor Schalk’s lab.

Traces of the drug Mobistix were found in five of the birds tested, while cocaine was found in the blood of another bird. Mobistix is a medicine used by humans as a pain-killer and to combat fever. The drug also prevents inflammation.

All 20 samples had already been analysed by a Belgian laboratory that found no traces of drugs in any of them. Normally two samples are taken, one is sent to a lab in Ghent (East Flanders) while the other is kept in case a second opinion is required.

If all goes to plan new doping rules should be in place before the start of the new pigeon racing season in 2014. As the samples sent to South Africa were anonymous the Pigeon Fanciers Association will not be able to take action against the owners of any of the pigeons.

During the next few months, the Association will look at whether the South African lab will be given the task of analysing samples from Belgian pigeons in the future.

 

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