CREDIT: JEFF MINTON/COURTESY OF UCLA OLYMPIC LAB
Antidoping researcher Donald Catlin is stepping down as director of the Olympic Analytical Laboratory, which he founded 25 years ago at the University of California, Los Angeles. Catlin, 68, is credited with uncovering many sports doping schemes. He will devote his time to research at the Anti-Doping Research Institute, a nonprofit he set up last year.
Q: Looking back, are there any discoveries or drug busts you're especially proud of?
You know, it's hard to be proud of a bust. I think norbolethone is one of the most important ones we ever did. That was a forerunner of designer steroids. When I figured that one out, I knew that there were people scheming and developing designer steroids that we couldn't see or find.
Q: Has your work changed how you feel about sports?
Yeah, in a way. I really love the Olympic model, where 200 countries can all get out their best athletes and compete, and the best men and women win. It's beautiful and exciting, and it should be very pure. But nowadays sometimes your hopes are dashed when you read that so-and-so is dirty.
Q: Do you think we'll ever be able to put an end to this?
If your objective is to get all drugs out of all sports forever, you're going to die very unhappy. But you should be able to get control enough so that the really high-end sports, where the big names are competing, are clean.
