483 Turning Sour (2/2)

”From the statistics, the country with the most applications for legal drug use is the US. Its numbers exceed the total number of applicants from all the other countries. And we grant more approvals to American athletes than athletes of any other country. I think we all know that we had to do this because our funding comes primarily from the United States. So on this matter, we only gave the Americans the green light.”

Cough! Cough! President Lewis coughed twice and stopped the person from continuing. He obviously didn't want to talk about this less-than-glorious subject. He said, ”The problem of approvals for legal drug use is something we can put aside for the time being. What we are discussing now is the investigative report itself. How true is it? Dr. Lawrence, you are an expert in researching illicit drugs. What do you think about the authenticity of this report?”

A scholarly old man with glasses cleared his throat and said, ”I think it is too early to judge, but on the technical side, there is indeed a gap between the first-class biological laboratories in the United States and us. For example, we usually can't detect the illegal drugs in the A bottle sample, and it's usually a few years before we can detect substances in the B bottle sample. Our technique is always behind. So one thing is certain; the latest types of illegal drugs, based on our current technique, cannot be detected.”

”I noticed in the report published by the media that there was a 27-substance chemical formula. Although we have not tested it, from the chemical formula alone, I am certain that it is a steroid derivative, and our detection process has never discovered it before. Although I am uncertain about the clinical effects of these substances, steroid derivatives are the most popular performance-enhancing drugs at the moment.”

”Steroids and their derivatives, regardless of their clinical effect, are banned from use. Even if they are unable to improve or enhance performance, they are still illegal drugs,” President Lewis said. He held his chin and thought about it. After a few seconds, he asked, ”Dr. Lawrence, according to what you said just now, if one of these 27 substances were detected in the athlete's sample, could we consider the athlete to have used illegal drugs?”

Dr. Lawrence nodded. ”That is the case.”

”So, can we detect these 27 substances?” Lewis then asked.

”In the past, definitely not, but now that the chemical formula of the substance has been published... Although we still can't synthesize these substances, if we were to just test for them, it would be relatively easy,” Lawrence said.

”How long do you need?” Lewis continued to ask.

Dr. Lawrence raised three fingers. ”Three days. Three days is enough for me to design a method to detect these 27 substances.”

”Very good. Inform the United States immediately; in three days, we will test the B bottle sample of all athletes who are allegedly using drugs,” Lewis said without hesitation.

”Mr. Chairman, this matter involves many things. Do we want to be considerate of the United States?” someone reminded him.

”Things are already getting out of hand. Even the Americans themselves are asking for the truth. If we don't do this, we will lose credibility. Don't forget the Olympics is being held this year! If we let a group of athletes on drugs participate, then what would become of the Olympics in the future?” Lewis said with a deep sigh. ”Now that we've come to this, any attempt at a cover-up would be ludicrous.”

...

How did the molecular formulas of the 27 derivatives leak out! Finished! This time I am really finished! Blecher's expression was filled with despair.

Did the leak come from the biological laboratories? No, I only gave the laboratories 24 derivatives. There are three kinds of derivatives that I did not let any biological laboratory know, but they were still published! The problem is from my end.

It was that investigative journalist, that d*mn investigative journalist. It must be him! I should have killed him when I had the chance!

Blecher knew that this time, he was completely finished. The 27 steroid derivatives were the clearest evidence that he had been providing athletes with illegal drugs through those biological laboratories. Taking into account his criminal record, this time he might be subjected to a very heavy sentence. And his company would never be able to walk away from this.

Blecher went to the window and opened it, hoping to breathe fresh air and relieve his depressed mood, but he saw a black Chevrolet parking in front of the door to his company.

It was a Chevrolet Suburban. This car was a household name in the United States. For example, in the president's motorcade, that car would be at the front. At the same time, this car was also called the FBI's exclusive vehicle.

The FBI is finally here. Blecher had already guessed their identity. His legs became soft, and he couldn't help but drop to his chair.