Lance Armstrong, drug testing, old urine
The Timesonline has an article on how scientists testing "old urine," vintage 1999, allegedly found Lance Armstrong used the banned substance EPO. Testing techniques have apparently improved since 1999.
Bruce Schneier has some interesting comments here from the security perspective, and I'll add mine too:
Bruce Schneier has some interesting comments here from the security perspective, and I'll add mine too:
This has implications potentially beyond sports - employees are often drug tested as well. Would an employer have legal recourse if they found an employee used illegal drugs years ago? Do the have the right to even store old urine?Hmmm, 1999, a very good year for urine I'm told.
I always refuse on principle to give urine samples, and AM occasionally asked by clients. My principles are for sale however! On several occasions I have offered to "sell my urine" for US$5,000 per vial.Hey, it's mine! No takers so far. BTW, my urine should test "clean," except for an abundance of caffeine which is legal as far as I know.
posted by Ted Demopoulos at 11:09 AM
Comments on "Lance Armstrong, drug testing, old urine"
-
Anonymous said ... (Wednesday, September 07, 2005 11:31:00 AM) :
-
rickak said ... (Thursday, September 08, 2005 8:43:00 AM) :
-
Ted Demopoulos said ... (Thursday, September 08, 2005 12:28:00 PM) :
post a commentMan this is sick! Stockpiling urine, ala Howard Hughes.
Next thing you know the givernement will require a urine sample a year, due April 15, along with income taxes
Its great that you're in a position to refuse. Most Americans aren't, and must subject themselves to this invasive little test for even meial jobs.
THey get Pre-Employment Tests: To decrease the chance that a current drug user will be hired, some employers test job applicants at the time of a job offer. The job offer depends on a negative drug test result.
Reasonable Suspicion and For Cause Tests: When an employee shows obvious signs of not being fit for duty (For Cause), or has a documented pattern of unsafe work behavior (Reasonable Suspicion), the employee may be asked to take a drug test.
Random Tests: To discourage drug use among all employees, an employer may ask employees to take drug tests at random and unpredictable times.
Post-Accident Tests: An employer may test employees who are involved in an accident or unsafe practice incident to find out if alcohol or other drug use was a factor.
Post-Treatment Tests: When an employee has taken time off from work to go through an inpatient treatment program or when an employee is participating in some form of outpatient treatment, an employer may arrange for random testing of that employee to ensure the employee remains sober.
I blame the insurance industry, our government drug propaanda, and our weak labor unions.
Rick,
You are absolutely right - I'm lucky.
No one, including employers, the government, or anyone else should be able to demand your urine or otherwise invade your privacy WITHOUT REASONABLE SUSPICION OF WRONGDOING OR DANGER.
In the US we are allegedly innocent until proven guilty, or at least we used to be. Most people need jobs and can't arbitrarily say "No, piss off" to an employer.
Professional and Olympic sports and drug testing? Maybe different - I'm no expert, although I believe drug use is rampant(and maybe, just maybe, that should be OK?).