WHAT?
A urine sample or a blood sample or both can be collected form you as an athlete for doping control testing.
The Doping Control Program that is currently taking place is an effective method to detect the marker(s) or evidence of prohibited methods use, nevertheless, it was not easy to detect if an athlete is taking intermittently or a small amount of drug. WADA first proposed the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) in 2002 since the need for a more sophisticated doping control program has been emerged to fight against developing the resistance to substance and evolving the use of a prohibited method.
Two Modules of Athlete Biological Passport:
Haematological Module: It was introduced in 2009 to identify the use of erythropoietic stimulating agents (ESA), any form of blood transfusion or manipulation. This module analyzes the ABP blood sample collection of athletes.
Steroidal Module: It was introduced in 2014 to identify the substance related to steroid doping (detects testosterone, designer steroids, anti-estrogens etc.). This module analyzes the urine sample collection of athletes.
WHEN?
Samples can be collected In-Competition or Out-of-Competition or both. In any event, it is your responsibility as an athlete to submit to sample collection whenever you are requested to provide a sample.
WHO?
Generally all athletes are subject to testing at different times. however, there are specific pool of athletes with obligations of providing more information in order to facilitate their repetitive testing throughout the year.
Registered testing pool (RTP)
Is a list that consists of top-level athletes from all sports selected by a national anti-doping organization and/or international federation of a particular sport. RTP participation requires athletes to provide whereabouts and contact information on a quarterly basis within a twelve-month period to ensure availability for testing at all times. Athletes who do not submit and update their whereabouts or do not appear at their scheduled places will be deemed a failed or missed test. A combination of three or more whereabouts failures or missed tests within a given period of 12 months is considered an Anti-Doping Rule Violation which results in the imposition of ineligibility period during which the athlete is banned from competition and training.
Registered Testing Pool (RTP) Selection Criteria:
Athletes with International-level or National-level
NADO or IF Risk Assessment of Doping
Athletes coming back from retirement/period of ineligibility that NADO/IF wishes to include in the RTP
Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) and intelligence
Other athletes to be included in Registered Testing Pool (RTP)
IF Registered Testing Pool (RTP) 2021
Whereabouts Information:
An effective out-of-competition testing program depends largely on accurate and updated whereabouts information.
Athletes who have been nominated by JADO to include into the JADO Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are required to provide accurate and updated Whereabouts Information to ensure they can be tested at anytime and anywhere with no advance notice.
Athletes in the RTP may incur anti-doping rule violations and subsequent sanctions, if they do not provide accurate and updated whereabouts information.
Athletes in the TDP who do not provide updated and accurate whereabouts information may be included in the JADO RTP.
Athletes must continue to file whereabouts information until:
JADO gives written notice to athletes of their removal from its RTP or TDP; or
Athletes give written notice to JADO and their NF of their retirement from sport.
International Federations also have their own RTP for international-level athletes.
Whereabouts Information:
1.Correspondence Details:
RTP and DTP athletes must provide a complete mailing address and a valid email address where correspondences may be sent to the athlete for formal notice purposes
2. Competition Schedule:
RTP and DTP athletes must provide details of their competition schedule for the following quarter, including the name and address of each location where the Athlete scheduled to compete, and the dates on which he/she scheduled to compete.
If an athlete exits a competition earlier or later than expected they must update their whereabouts immediately.
3.Training Schedule:
RTP and DTP athletes must provide details of their training schedule, including training camps. Details should include exact dates, times and the name and address of each training venue. Updates are to be made immediately when their training schedules change.
4.Other Regular Activities:
On days where there are no training or competition, RTP and TDP athletes are required to provide details of other regular activities, such as work or school, rehab or physio session, including the dates, times and the name and address of each location of such activities. Updates are to be made immediately when details of such regular activities change.
5 .Daily Overnight Residence:
All RTP athletes must provide a complete address of the place where they are staying overnight, eg. home, temporary lodgings, hotel, etc. The information should be updated immediately if there are changes.
6.Daily 60-minute Slot:
All RTP athletes must enter one specific 60-minute slot each day at a specified location between 5 am and 11 pm where they will be available for testing. The Athlete must provide sufficient information to enable the Doping Control Officer to find the location, to gain access to the location, and to find the athlete at the location.
This information must be accurate and updated at all times. The athlete is liable for a Missed Test if the athlete cannot be located at the venue specified for the 60-minute slot. The athlete is expected to remain at this specified location for the entire 60-minute period.
7.Travel Information:
All RTP athletes must provide their details of their travel plans if they have all-day travel plans that prevent them from entering an accessible 60-minute time slot or an all-night travel plan that would prevent them from entering a fixed and accessible overnight accommodation entry.
HOW?
Here is an outline of the Testing Process for a Urine Sample;
Selection: an athlete is selected for doping control.
Notification: a Chaperone or DCO will notify you to say you have been selected for testing and will show you their identification. You will be told your rights and responsibilities, asked to show your identification and then you need to sign the top part of the Doping Control Form to confirm you have been notified.
Reporting: you will then be chaperoned (observed at all times) as you make your way to the Doping Control Station (DCS). This is where the testing will take place. You should report immediately to the DCS unless you request a delay for a permitted reason.
Selecting Sample Collection Equipment: you should be given a choice of sample collection kits. Make sure the kit you select is sealed and has not been tampered with. This is important.
Proving a Sample: when ready, you will be asked to wash your hands or wear gloves and then to provide your sample. The DCO, who will be of the same gender as you, will directly observe you providing your sample. You will be asked to remove/lift clothing above your chest and below your knees so the DCO has an unobstructed view.
Splitting the Sample: you will need to provide a minimum of 90ml of urine. This may be done on more than one occasion (a partial sample) until you reach the required amount. Once you have 90ml or more, the DCO will ask you to split the sample between the A and B bottles, starting with the B bottle first. Again, you will be given a choice of A and B bottles and you should ensure these have not been tampered with. You should also check that the code on the kits matches.
Sealing the Sample: once your sample has been split between the A and the B bottles you will be asked to seal them. Make sure you check and recheck that the tamper-evident bottle lids are securely fastened.
Checking the Sample’s Concentration (Specific Gravity): for the lab to be able to analyse your sample it needs to be of a specific concentration. The DCO will test your sample to make sure it is within range. Should your sample not be in range, you may be asked to provide another sample.
Verifying the Sample: you will need to complete the Doping Control Form and sign it to complete the process. Don’t forget to add any medications and/or supplements you have taken within the last seven days and consider allowing your sample to be used for research purposes too. Make sure you take your copy of the Doping Control form which you should keep.
Finally, don’t forget that your samples will be sent to a WADA Accredited Lab for analysis. Your A sample will be analysed, and your B sample will be stored securely. Samples can be stored for up to 10 years.
