Lessons Learned

Long Beach, CA

I arrived home on Friday night, three hours before I left China, thanks to the 15-hour difference in time zones and crossing back over the International Date Line. Yesterday (Saturday) was the end of the swimming events, and Michael Phelps accomplished the unprecedented 8 gold medals he had set his sights on. What a feat! I weighed myself yesterday and I lost 3 kg; maybe I should get a medal, too!

In addition to the fun I had and the friends I made, this experience has been very valuable to my expertise in doping control. I saw several areas where I can offer suggestions to improve the DC process in the future, and I will send my suggestions to the appropriate authorities. As a pharmacist with expertise in doping control, I was able to offer unique skills and perspective. For example, a team physician from a European country did not want his athlete to disclose the use of oral contraceptives when I was taking a medication history. He told me that oral contraceptives were not medications because they didn’t treat anything. (I realize that ALL pharmacists who read this will raise their eyebrows.). I explained to both him and the athlete, that not only were OCs indeed medications, but some had the potential to complicate the drug test (parent drug and/or metabolites), and that it would be best to disclose. I wasn’t able to convince him that OCs were medications, and I didn’t have the time to debate him, but I did convince him that the athlete should disclose their use. Another example was when an athlete asked a DCO why it was necessary to measure specific gravity of the specimens. A very good question. Everyone in the room looked over at me, so I walked over to the athlete and explained how the urine specimen must be at least a certain concentration because the laboratory cannot detect substances if they are too diluted. Simple chemistry. The athlete told me that it made good sense.

Learning about Chinese culture, and learning the hearts and minds of my Chinese friends was an incredible experience. I have many feelings about life in China, but it is beyond the scope of this blog. But, what I would like to share is that the people are very respectful, they work hard, they have a lot of pride, and they are so loving and caring. They are more Westernized that I expected.

I must thank the UCSF School of Pharmacy, particularly Joe Guglielmo (Department Chair) and Mary Anne Koda-Kimble (Dean) for their support of my Olympic work, and to fellow faculty member, Robin Corelli, for covering my responsibilities while I was away.

Thanks to those of you who sent emails and posted comments to my blog. I was happy to share this experience with you.

Peter.

Phelps Wins Another Gold, and I Say Goodbye

Yesterday, August 14, 2008, was my last day of work. Michael Phelps won his 6th gold medal. Wow! When I checked in at the NAC in the morning, by scanning my credentials, the person manning the computer called out something in Chinese. Was there a problem? The manager of the area walked up to me and pulled me aside. He said that he understood that this was to be my last day at the Water Cube and in China, and he had a gift for me--five wrist bands of the five colors of the Olympic rings. How nice! But, how did he know it was my last day? He laughed and told me that my partner, Li (Linda), came in early to tell him. They continue to amaze me with their hospitality.

There was no diving scheduled for the afternoon, so we had a break between the morning and evening swimming events. Many of the DCOs and chaperones wanted to take photos with me, and they gave me pins, cards, and other gifts. Chen, the young man who showed me around my first day at the NAC, made a calligraphy for me with my name and “Beijing 2008” in Chinese. It is something I will frame. And, the manager of the DC station took all the DCOs to lunch at a Chinese restaurant to thank me for working with them.

DCO's at lunch-Last Day

Gang (pronounced “Gong”) is one of the DCOs with whom I work at the Water Cube. Two nights ago, we were working quite late and still had to finish completing the chain-of-custody forms to send along with the specimens that would be taken by armed guard to the anti-doping lab. At about 2330, Gang offered to stay and finish the forms by himself so that the rest of us could go home since we had to be back at 0800. He told me that Doping Control set up an apartment near the NAC for such occasions and he would go to this apartment rather than take the long ride to his home. I should add that we were all instructed to take taxis home when leaving so late, and now the fare was paid by BOCOG. The next morning, I asked Gang how the apartment was. He told me that there was a large room about 200 square meters and it had five single beds in it. And, not only did he not bring a change of clothes, the air conditioning did not work and there was no shower. I told Gang that I was very grateful that he was not my DCO partner!! Pugh! We had a good laugh. Anyway, after lunch yesterday, five of us played a card game called “pig” which Gang had taught me. It is a game where you can get positive or negative points, and Gang lost both of the games we played--and I was the one who kept passing him the pig (the Queen of Spades). It was pretty funny!

We finished the day at 2200 yesterday, and it was difficult to say goodbye to my new friends. I told the FINA representative that I had a proposal for a new swimming event--coed relays. He smiled, but I could not tell if he liked the idea or not. If it comes to pass, remember you heard it here first.

My two DCO partners, Li (Linda) and Feng (Kitty), picked me up at my apartment at 5:00 p.m. today and drove me to the airport. I was planning to take a taxi, but they insisted on taking me for one last goodbye. We grew close to each other during my 25 days in China, and we hugged a long time before I finally left them behind as I walked through the security check. I will never forget their hospitality, generosity, and friendship.

Busy Days

The Games are in full force and the atmosphere is full of energy. We have conducted a large number of drug tests. Still, there is time to go poolside to watch the events, and we also have a direct feed on a television in the doping control station. More than 30 world or Olympic records have been broken already, and we also test them to validate the results. All medal winners are tested, as well as some at random. It is very hard to describe how emotional some of the medal ceremonies are. Those are conducted at the pool also.

Because of the work schedule, there is really no time for sightseeing anymore, but I was able to see a fair amount already. There is a parade twice a day at the Olympic Green (a large Park around the National Aquatics Center, the National Stadium, the National Indoor Stadium, and other venues) in the morning and the afternoon, which I saw two days ago. Tonight, I am having dinner with my two doping control officer partners, Feng (Kitty) and Li (Linda).

Olympic Green Parade

I haven't heard much about doping cases, but did hear about one cyclist who tested positive during pre-competition testing and was expelled.

Must go. They need the computer here at the NAC.

American Tourist Killed

I'm sending this again from the doping control venue manager's computer. We have been quite busy with many drug tests. In addition to the usual testing plan, we test whenever an athlete breaks an Olympic or world record. During the past two days, many of the records have been bested. Earlier today, I watched an amazing race of the men's 4X100 freestyle relay. What a comeback for the USA to win the gold medal. I think the team broke the world record, which it set the night before in the preliminaries, by a good 4 seconds! Of course, my Chinese partners root for the Chinese athletes, but they cheer and applaud all winners and especially those who break records. I keep meeting a very delightful athlete from another country who has been quite successful and even set some new records. Every time she is tested, she says it is a pleasure (because of the circumstances).

As I mentioned in a previous note, we are working long hours, and it is exhausting. We are now alternating days of 0800-1700 with 0800-2400. Not a good thing when you need to pay strict attention to detail and accuracy. Today, I am off at 1700, which means I did not get much sleep between yesterday and today.

There was an incident a couple of days ago in which an American tourist was stabbed to death by a Chinese man who then committed suicide by jumping off a building. I saw the headline on CNN International just as I was going to bed: "American Tourist Killed in Olympic Attack;" and that was all the information provided. I needed to call my family, so they wouldn't worry. The American was the father of a former Olympian and the father-in-law of the coach of US men's volleyball team. How tragic and senseless. I can only imagine the anguish the family must be feeling. It was big news here the next day with more details, and my Chinese friends (workers) are now concerned about me taking the bus and subway home late at night, and then walking a good 15 minutes from subway to apartment. I realize it was a random and senseless act, but last night they insisted that I take a taxi home, and one came with me since it was on her way home too (I think she saw my stubbornness and guessed I was still going to take the subway). I was dropped off and then we had a "fight" about who was paying the taxi fare. This is typical of the kindness with which they treat me.

Internet Goes Down, Security Increases, and Games Begin

I have lost my wireless Internet signal at my apartment. So, I am writing this with the hope that I can get Internet access at the NAC tomorrow. Tonight at 8:08 p.m. (consistent with the date of 8/8/08, as the number 8 is a lucky number in Chinese culture) is the Opening Ceremony, and we are meeting the International DCOs to have dinner and watch the show on a big screen TV. Security everywhere has picked up, even at the apartment complex.

This morning, I met with Mike again and saw his pharmacy operation. He is set up at Beijing Normal University, where many of the USOC workers are staying. They are also using the facilities there for athletes to train and practice. There is a pool, a gymnasium, and I even saw a boxing ring set up in one area. Mike was able to secure a one-day pass for me so that I could enter. As I walked out to go back home, a Chinese girl walked up to me and asked in English if Kobe Bryant was there because the team practices in the gymnasium. There were a number of people waiting around the entrance with cameras, hoping to catch shots of the famous athletes. No one seemed interested in taking my photo, though.

Beijing Pride

Today, I started at the NAC at 0830 for pre-competition testing. At 0930, the Doping Control Manager of the venue gave me a ticket to the "Theme Exhibition on Beijing Olympic Games," and was told that I wouldn't be needed until this afternoon. Several of the college students who serve as DC escorts (They notify the athletes of their selection for doping control and escort them to the DC station.) were also given tickets and were told to take me with them. So, off we went: a bus ride and two subway trains to the south of Beijing. The exhibit was very large and consisted of the history of the Olympic Games for China, and how they were first allowed to participate in the Games 100 years ago, and how they aspired to host the games for so many years, before finally getting the selection for 2008. The Chinese people are so very proud to be hosting the games, and the city is so beautifully decorated with so many banners, lanterns and signs. The landscaping is so colorful. It is not uncommon for people to offer their seats to me on a bus or subway; often it is a young woman, and it is against my nature to take the seat, but they will absolutely insist and I realized that it would be an insult if I did not oblige. Most of the young people can speak English, and they often will engage me in conversation when they see me on the bus or subway in my uniform.

We returned to the NAC in the afternoon and were informed that a number of athletes would be selected for testing in the evening during their workouts. In between, we watch the athletes practice - swimming, diving and synchronized swimming. It should be noted that those athletes that have not checked into the Olympic Village yet are still subject to testing. Their whereabouts must be known, and I am aware that WADA has tested athletes in other cities and countries (e.g., Singapore) where athletes have located to acclimate to the time zone and train, rather than to come to Beijing so early. And, we all know the "Dream Team" stays in a luxurious hotel. It will be no refuge for doping control. Sure enough, we had a busy evening collecting blood and urine samples late into the night. The athletes are pleasant and excited. As one athlete walked out of the doping control station, he told me that he hopes to see me again - (meaning that he wins a medal, since all medal winners are tested).

Meeting Mike, A Sports Pharmacist

Due to the increase in pre-competition testing, my work schedule was changed and I lost a day off. That was fine with me, as I want to do as much work as I can while I am here. The people I work with are so enjoyable, the athletes are friendly, and the atmosphere so exciting. After putting in a day's work, I met with Mike who is a pharmacist in the Los Angeles area who works for SportPharm, which services the USOC, as well as many professional and collegiate sports teams. He and his partner are the pharmacists for the US Olympic Team. How is that for an innovative pharmacy practice?! SportPharm is one of the places I take my sports pharmacy APPE students to, so they can learn about the dispensing and therapeutics side of sports pharmacy (My focus and expertise is on performance-enhancing drugs, drug testing and doping control.) Mike and I had a nice dinner together (Chinese food!), and we shared our experiences in Beijing. I will visit him again and see his setup with all the medications that he brought from the US. One of his important roles is to make certain that athletes are not prescribed medications that are on the IOC's banned substance list. Having a pharmacist in the loop would have prevented the prescribing error that occurred in Sydney, where the Romanian gymnast was stripped of her gold medal for a positive drug test after taking a tablet for cold symptoms from her physician that contained a banned stimulant (decongestant). It was an innocent prescribing error, but a costly one, and one that could have been prevented - not so different than other prescribing errors.