WADA RESPONDS TO ATHLETE QUERIES CONCERNING ANTI-DOPING IN LIGHT OF COVID-19

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Published on Tuesday, 24 March 2020 21:30

Montreal, 23 March 2020 – Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) responded to athlete queries concerning anti-doping in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by publishing a Question and Answer (Q&A) document that it developed in consultation with its Athlete Committee. This follows on from WADA's COVID-19 guidance that was issued on 20 March to Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) worldwide.
 
WADA President Witold Bańka said: "WADA and the global anti-doping community are prioritizing public health, safety and social responsibility. As we continue to meet the challenges of this pandemic, the health of athletes and all those involved in clean sport, will continue to be front-of-mind.
 
"WADA acknowledges how difficult this situation has been and will continue to be for athletes as they deal with the strict measures that have been put in place around the world, which are disrupting their training programs and creating uncertainty as to what is in store for their upcoming competitions. The anti-doping community has banded together to adjust its daily operations by suspending or reducing some of its programs, including testing and other activities. As difficult as this is for everyone, we must stay strong. We will get through this situation and everyone hopes that we can return the global anti-doping system to full power as soon as we emerge."
 
Chair of the WADA Athlete Committee Ben Sandford said: "In these difficult times, we must all do our part to stay safe, keep others safe and look out for each other. We are athletes, but first of all we are human. It is important that we listen to our government health authorities and do our part to minimize the likelihood of transmission and impact on society. The situation clearly goes well beyond anti-doping and sport and this document is designed to address some specific concerns that athletes may have right now as we navigate the path ahead.
 
"Athletes should be aware that testing can continue where appropriate, where possible and with the necessary health and hygiene protocols in place. It is important to ensure the integrity of the overall system is maintained as much as possible. WADA will continue to identify any gaps in the program and advise relevant ADOs accordingly so that they can adjust their testing programs going forward."
 
The Q&A covers issues such as:

• Ongoing testing
• Minimizing the risk of contracting or transmitting the virus
• Filing of whereabouts information
• Validating Therapeutic Use Exemptions
• Maintaining the integrity of the anti-doping system
• Refusing to comply with testers at this time

WADA will continue to liaise with athletes and ADOs in the interest of publishing updates regarding the Agency's response to COVID-19 as the situation evolves.

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Published on Tuesday, 24 March 2020 21:24

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WADA UPDATE REGARDING ACCREDITED AND APPROVED LABORATORIES IN LIGHT OF COVID-19

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Published on Tuesday, 17 March 2020 13:57

Montreal, 16 March 2020

Dear Colleagues,
[Anti-Doping Organizations and Laboratories]In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wishes to share some important information regarding WADA-accredited laboratories as well as those approved by WADA for blood analysis in connection with the Athlete Biological Passport.
 
Last week, four accredited laboratories, in Rome (Italy), Montreal (Canada), Madrid and Barcelona (Spain), indicated they were temporarily suspending operations due to the ongoing crisis. WADA anticipates that more laboratories, particularly in Europe, may follow suit.
 
WADA has been in touch with all four laboratories to ensure that the integrity of the anti-doping samples is maintained during this period of closure. To that end, any laboratory that makes the decision to suspend activities must:

• Inform its clients immediately of this decision and instruct them not to deliver any more samples for analysis if samples cannot be properly handled and stored.
• Establish a procedure whereby samples that are already on their way to the laboratory can be securely received and either redirected to another accredited laboratory or safely stored frozen for when the laboratory's analytical activity resumes.
• Devise a strategy for safe analysis of the samples once normal activities resume, bearing in mind that some of the thawed samples may contain the virus.

In addition, WADA kindly asks Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) not to send samples to laboratories that have suspended operations until further notice (unless specifically requested to do so by the laboratory itself) and check with other laboratories in advance to make sure they are still accepting samples for analysis.
 
ADOs should refer to the Accredited Laboratories section of WADA's website where the Agency will publish similar disruptions as the situation evolves.
 
WADA will continue to monitor this exceptional situation closely and make the necessary decisions and recommendations that will prioritize the health of all those involved in the protection of clean sport. Laboratories are encouraged to advise WADA of any amendments they are making to their activities so that WADA can coordinate, assist and advise the anti-doping community as necessary.
 
Thank you for your cooperation and best regards,
 
World Anti-Doping Agency

WADA LAUNCHES ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR ANTI-DOPING ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TECHNICAL DOCUMENT FOR SPORT SPECIFIC ANALYSIS (TDSSA) MINIMUM LEVELS OF ANALYSIS

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Published on Thursday, 05 March 2020 23:29

Montreal, 4 March 2020

Dear Colleagues,The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to announce that – further to the amendments made to the Technical Document for Sport Specific Analysis (TDSSA) following the stakeholder consultation process conducted in 2019 – it has developed an online application system for Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) to apply for flexibility in the implementation of the Minimum Levels of Analysis (MLAs) for the sports and disciplines contained within the TDSSA. An ADO can qualify for flexibility in the implementation of the TDSSA MLAs based on the following two scenarios:

• The implementation of a haematological module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP); and
• Other non-ABP related criteria e.g. prioritization of target testing, collaboration with other ADOs, use of intelligence in the implementation of an ADO's anti-doping program, etc*.

The application process is located within the Code Compliance Center (CCC – previously the Code Compliance Questionnaire) platform through which ADOs are required to answer a number of questions against set criteria (listed in Article 6 of the TDSSA) as well as upload supporting documents – including their Risk Assessments, Test Distribution Plans and Registered Testing Pools. On completion of the application, and based on the answers to the questions, ADOs will receive a pre-approved level of flexibility (up to a maximum of 50%) for the implementation of the MLAs for the sports or disciplines they seek flexibility for. This pre-approved flexibility is subject to review by WADA. ADOs that are interested in applying for flexibility in the implementation of the MLAs should contact WADA to outline their intentions at . WADA will subsequently open access to the online application by sending an "Invitation Notification" to interested ADOs. For more information, ADOs are encouraged to read the Application for Flexibility User Guide before contacting WADA.Revised TDSSA Testing GuidesTo further support implementation of version 5.0 of the TDSSA, WADA would like to remind ADOs to utilize the updated Testing Guides for Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs), Growth Hormone (GH) and Growth Hormone Releasing Factors (GHRFs). ADOs are encouraged to consult these Guides to support their testing strategies when applying analysis for these categories of substances within the scope of the TDSSA.Should you have any questions relating to the above, please do not hesitate to contact .Best regards,World Anti-Doping Agency

* The full list of non-ABP related criteria can be found in TDSSA Article 6.2.