Rome 10/26/2000

Gian Antonio Romanini President of the Italian Rowing Federation (F.I.C.); Professor Antonio Dal Monte, President of the Anti-doping Federal Commission of F.I.C.; and Professor Luigi Di Luigi, endocrinologist of the University of Rome; started the animated debate that took place in Rome last Tuesday (10/26/2000) titled "The Implication of the Grown Hormones on High-Level Athletes".

Also participating in the debate also was Doctor Giuseppe La Mura, Head Coach of the Italian National Team, who explained with his usual verve his point of view and his researches about the GH in high-level athletes. The debate was very lively and intense especially when Mr. Sandro Donati, member of the Scientific Commission of the Italian Olympic Committee (C.O.N.I.), stood up to defend the actions of the Commission (responsible for the analysis that start the scandal).

Professor Di Luigi, who acted as moderator for the discussion, sustained that the research as it is doesn't have any scientific validity and he added that: "… if the Commission would have asked my opinion I would definitely suggest to avoid doing research on GH …". Di Luigi also stated that the Commission used procedures for the analysis that were not optimized for any kind of quantitative analysis.

In sum the parties present at the debate concluded that the values given for the GH did not represent a risk for the athletes, and that those values did not suggest the use of any illegal drug (in this case GH).