Scientists favor hair in sports drug tests

London -- British scientists say a hair-sampling technique used to catch rapists will work better than a urine test to nab athletes using banned drugs.

Hair samples offer a "telltale history" of a person's consumption patterns for up to a year, the scientists say. On the other hand, urine testing detects illegal substances between two and five days after they have been ingested.

The test can also be carried out on body hair, so athletes with bald or wet-shaved heads would also expect to be caught, the Times of London said.

However, the World Anti-Doping Agency, whose rules govern international sports, including the Olympics, says nothing overrides the findings from urine or blood, as far as it's concerned.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.