Open letter to the WADA

The following was posted by Gökhan Senoglu in the discussion section on Diana Taurasi's official facebook page. You cannot deny that in the wake of the allegations against Taurasi, that the support has been overwhelming to say the least. Some people call it blind faith - I call it believing in someone.


WADA (headquarters)
Fax : +1 514 904 8650
WADA(Europe)
Fax: +41 21 343 43 41

info@wada-ama.org
tbf@tbf.org.tr

Send this letter to World Anti Doping Agency and help Diana Taurasi


08/01/2011

To whom it may concern‚
As a group of avid basketball fans that truly believe in the integrity‚ ethics and fairplay‚ we would like to bring to your attention the events unfolded around Diana Taurasis alleged use of a banned substance.

On or about December 23‚ 2010‚ we learned that the Fenerbahce Basketball player Diana Taurasis' A sample‚ taken after a regular league game against ISTANBUL University contained a banned substance. Apparently‚ the news leaked and Taurasis right to confidentiality as a result was breached.
On December 28‚ 2010‚ only 5 days the news was leaked‚ the head of Turkish Football Federation Anti-Doping Organization and the Chairman of Turkish Basketball Federation Health Department‚ Prof. Dr. Turgay Atasu‚ went on various media outlets and declared that he was confident Taurasis B sample was also positive and she should be banned 2 years. Dr. Atasu clearly violated Taurasis fundamental right to presumed innocence and rendered the process of analyzing the B sample a mere formality.

Please note that when Dr Atasu was drawing his conclusions when Taurasis B sample was not even opened and clearly he was formulating public opinion that Taurasi was guilty of doping and she should be punished. He further went on and said he was in favor of exposing cheaters as soon as there is some evidence of wrongdoing. His total disregard of due process and confidentiality of results is self evident in his widely published remarks.

Dr Atasu is a public official in a position of authority in doping matters and he is also head of a health committee with the Turkish Basketball Federation that is responsible from receiving and evaluating the test results. His comments published in all major news outlets are outrageous‚ unacceptable and in clear and irrefutable violation of WADA Code Article 14.2.5.

Furthermore‚ in the last few months there are at least 5 other athletes accused of doping using the same banned substance‚ modafinil. After 2‚5 years of no reported doping cases how can one logically explain the sudden explosion of Modafinil in 5 other athletes within a very short time?. Given the tarnished history of Hacettepe University Doping Control Center and their suspension in 2009‚ this raises very serious concerns about the integrity of their testing procedures and the results.

While we are in favor of punishing those who cheated to gain a competitive advantage‚ we are also a strong advocates of fair testing done in a professional manner adhering to the highest procedural and ethical standards. Unfortunately in Taurasis case it is clearly impossible to talk about such standard. Dr. Atasus comments coupled with this labs questionable history and practices raise significant concerns and questions that are yet to be answered.!

Based on these facts we kindly request (or to be informed of):

-Immediate suspension of Hacettepe University Turkish Doping Control Center.
-A thorough investigation of Dr. Turgay Atasus public comments to understand how he was sure that Taurasis B sample was positive before it was even analyzed?
-Was he in contact with the lab personnel?
-Did he influence the testing process to determine the outcome?
-A complete review of the Labs procedures‚ analysis techniques and instruments in light of all positive cases for the same substance that occurred in a very short period of time.
-Most importantly a retest of Taurasis both A and B samples in another accredited laboratory to alleviate significant doubts and concerns about the integrity of the results .

Sincerely‚
NAME SURNAME

**contact information is posted above.