World Anti-Doping Agency updates Covid-19 testing guidance for Anti-Doping Organisations

The World Anti-Doping Agency has updated its testing guidance for Anti-Doping Organisations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The initial guidance was published on 6th May but following a review and input from the World Health Organization and a group of National Anti-Doping Organizations the guidance has been updated and renamed “Guidance for Testing during COVID-19 Pandemic”.

The Guidance has been updated so as to effectively reflect the latest scientific research into the virus as well as reflecting a recent survey of Anti-Doping Organisations so as to inform them how they may best operate testing programmes during the ongoing pandemic whilst ensuring that the health and safety of athletes and testers are still protected.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said “WADA is pleased to provide this updated ADO Guidance to continue to help maintain the integrity of the anti-doping system during the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring the health and safety of athletes, sample collection personnel and others. Subject to the level of restrictions in place in each country, it is crucial that the testing of athletes continues and that ADOs have the necessary information and procedures to do so in a structured and safe way. While COVID-19 has had an impact on testing, there has been a very strong commitment by ADOs over the past months to resume and continue to conduct testing under strengthened health and hygiene protocols. In October 2020, ADOs collected approximately 21,000 samples, and when compared to October 2019 this accounts for 76% of the total number of samples and 84% collected Out-of-Competition.”

You can read the WADA statement here.

This week WADA also published version 6 of the Technical Document for Sport Specific Analysis (TDSSA) which will come into force on 1st January 2021 and must be implemented by all Anti-Doping Organizations.

You can read the WADA statement here.