US swimming coach Richard Quick, who trains five-times Olympic relay gold medallist Jenny Thompson, says the system stinks. He feels if the International Olympic Committee really wanted to catch drug cheats they could. You see, if an athlete takes his or her vial of EPO, or erythropoietin, 72 hours before a test is conducted, they could without fear of testing positive, stand on the rostrum as a pleasantly smiling septuagenarian hangs a medal around their neck. Another test developed by the Australian Sports Drug Laboratory can reveal usage within a month of an athlete taking it. But that one is not being used.

"I don't think it's the highest priority on their agenda to have a drug-free Olympic Games. I can't think of anything more important on their agenda, not one thing. If funding's a problem, then let's not fly first-class to every meeting we go to and stay in five-star hotels."