A former Australian Olympic hockey star, Greg Corbitt, believes in drug testing more than most. It was confirmed last week that the player has cancer and will enter hospital in Perth for removal of a malignant tumour.

Corbitt (26), a member of the Australian side which won the silver medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, said the cancer had been detected during a routine drug test in Sydney more than a month ago. He said he was lucky he had been picked by the Australian Sports Drug Agency for random drug tests on June 21st. The agency was rarely thanked by athletes, but its tests could save his life, he said.

"Had they not asked for a urine sample, I would have continued to live my life without knowing I have cancer until it was too late," he said. Odd how some athletes continue to see drug testing as a scourge while others see it as a life-saving practice. One up for the testers.