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WADA makes changes to enhance reporting of anti-doping statistics

2011-10-08 18:21 WADA

October 4, 2011 - WADA has introduced changes to its International Standard for Testing (IST) that will improve the Agency’s annual reporting of statistics in 2012 and beyond.

The changes, which were approved by WADA’s Executive Committee on September 17 and will come into force on January 1, 2012, will have a positive impact on the operations of all Anti-Doping Organizations.

In addition to the IST changes, the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) will be amended so that all results, including negatives, will be reported in the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS), WADA’s clearing house of global anti-doping information.

Under Articles 14.4 and 14.5 of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA is required to collect and publish a global summary of all anti-doping statistics.

Improvements to the collection of statistics will also allow a better assessment of WADA’s new directive to ADOs for an increase in the amount of blood sampling.

Statistics Amendments

In order to improve its mandate for statistics, WADA has made the following changes to the IST and ISL:

a) Addition of the type of sample and the type of test to the requirements for sample collection documentation (IST clause 7.4.5).

b) Addition of the Testing Authority (who authorized the test) and Sample Collection Authority (who collected the sample) to the requirements for sample collection (IST clause 7.4.5) and to the requirements for documentation and reporting by the laboratory (ISL clauses 5.2.6.6 and 6.2.6.6). New definitions for Sample Collection Authority and Testing Authority have also been incorporated into the Standard to ensure standardization in reporting of this information.

c) Addition of a new requirement to security/post-test administration (IST clause 8.3.3) specifying information in relation to the sample that the ADO shall provide to the WADA-accredited laboratory for result reporting and statistical purposes.

d) New IST clause (9.3.7) requiring ADOs to furnish WADA with additional information on adverse findings for statistical and research purposes.

Adding this information to all Doping Control Documentation, and subsequently to all laboratory reports, will enable ADAMS to act as an improved central clearing house for all tests, irrespective of whether or not the ADO uses ADAMS.

This will give access to the volume and types of tests conducted by each ADO and provide data to analyze with respect to gaps in testing amongst stakeholders, with a view to evaluating efficacy.

WADA encourages all ADOs to take the necessary measures to amend paperwork and inform doping control personnel appropriately prior to January 1, 2012, in order to ensure compliance with these new elements of the IST.

A version of the IST which will come into force in January, and that highlights these amendments, is available by clicking here.

Blood Testing Policy

As announced in September, following requests from stakeholders for additional guidance on what constitutes best practice for testing programs, WADA has advised that there needs to be more emphasis on the collection of blood samples.

Only 4% of all doping control samples collected in 2010 was for blood, and most of these were for passport programs. This has been a key concern for WADA since an ADO cannot purport to have an effective program if there is a loophole in its blood testing.

A recommendation was therefore made to the Executive Committee that all ADOs ensure that not less than 10% of all samples collected are blood specimens.

This recommendation was accepted by the Executive Committee which recognized that only through blood collection can an ADO best focus resources in a targeted and intelligent fashion, and put quality testing ahead of quantity.

The new 10% directive will also have a significant deterrence benefit, regardless of the particular risks associated with the ADOs’ sports.

Furthermore, it is intended to be a minimum figure only, and may be insufficient in some jurisdictions where the risk of abuse of blood-based substances and methods is greater.
Improvements in statistics reporting will enable WADA to better monitor ADO blood-collection activity, adjust recommendations as required, and consider additional ways and means of supporting this directive.

WADA remains at the disposal of all ADOs to provide the necessary support to see this recommendation is accepted and implemented in a pragmatic and appropriate fashion.

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