Page 1

Q&A: Missed Tests & Athlete Whereabouts Information

Updated: February 7, 2007

Page 1

Q&A: Missed Tests & Athlete Whereabouts Information

What rules does the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) currently include

in relation to whereabouts information?

Article 14.3 of the Code states that “Athletes who have been identified by

their International Federation (for international athletes) or National Anti-

Doping Organization (for national athletes) for inclusion in an out-of-

competition* testing pool shall provide accurate, current location

information.” Each of these anti-doping organizations (ADOs) is

responsible for defining the specific criteria for inclusion of athletes in its

registered testing pool (for example, a specified world ranking cut-off, a

specified time standard, membership of a national team, etc), but the pool

must include at a minimum the top-ranked athletes in the sport/country.

Whereabouts requirements are set by the athlete’s ADO in order to allow

some flexibility based upon varying circumstances encountered in different

sports and countries.

What rules does the World Anti-Doping Code currently include in

relation to missed tests?

Article 2.4 of the Code lists missed tests as a possible anti-doping rule

violation, in the following wording: “Violation of applicable requirements

regarding athlete availability for out-of-competition testing including failure

to provide required whereabouts information and missed tests which are

declared based on reasonable rules.”

Such violation can result in a sanction for the athlete from three months to

two years in accordance with the rules established by the ADO whose test

was missed or whose whereabouts requirement was violated, under Article

10.4.3 of the Code.

Has WADA developed any other rules or guidelines in relation to

whereabouts and missed tests?

WADA has developed an International Standard for Testing, which entered

into force at the same time as the Code in January 2004 and is mandatory

for signatories to the Code. This Standard—whose purpose is to plan for

effective testing and to maintain the integrity and identity of samples

throughout the testing process, from notifying the athlete to transporting

samples for analysis—expands on the requirements for ADOs for establishing

registered testing pools and collecting athlete whereabouts information.

Q&A: Missed Tests & Athlete Whereabouts Information

Updated: February 7, 2007

Page 2

WADA has also developed a number of guidelines relating to doping control

activities. These guidelines are not mandatory, but provide recommended

solutions to stakeholders in different areas of anti-doping. Among this set of

models of best practice relating to whereabouts information and missed tests

are guidelines for whereabouts information, out-of-competition testing, and

results management. For example, WADA’s Guideline for Athlete

Whereabouts Information recommends that ADOs should require athletes to

submit their whereabouts information at a minimum on a quarterly basis.

When do missed tests result in a possible anti-doping rule violation?

The Code currently leaves some flexibility to ADOs as relates to missed tests,

based upon varying circumstances encountered in different sports and

countries. However, WADA’s Guideline for Athlete Whereabouts Information

recommends that the relevant ADO should proceed with the result

management process following three missed tests, or three recorded

warnings for failure to provide whereabouts information, or a combination of

failure to provide whereabouts information and missed tests, in a period of

18 months.

Who is responsible for managing missed tests?

The ADO that initiated and directed sample collection (or, if no sample

collection is involved, the ADO which discovered the violation) is responsible

for results management. Missed tests as part of WADA’s worldwide out-of-

competition testing program are managed by the relevant International

Federation (IF).

Are there any global statistics available about missed tests?

Not yet. Statistics will be available when more ADOs will implement ADAMS

(Anti-Doping Administration & Management System), the web-based

database management system aimed at coordinating anti-doping activities

worldwide. ADAMS was officially launched in November 2005. Dozens of

ADOs have been trained to use the system, which is made available by

WADA free of charge in French, English and Spanish.

Does WADA have statistics available about missed tests in relation to

its own out-of-competition testing program?

Q&A: Missed Tests & Athlete Whereabouts Information

Updated: February 7, 2007

Page 3

Out of 3,279 tests conducted by WADA in 2006, 140 (4.2%) resulted in an

“unavailable athlete report.” Following review of the circumstances by the

relevant IFs, 30 of these tests (0.9% of the overall number of tests

conducted as part of WADA’s out-of-competition testing program) were

declared “missed.”

Recently, the German national anti-doping agency (NADA) released

figures mentioning 385 missed tests in Germany in 2006. What is

WADA’s reaction to this situation?

This situation highlights the need to properly educate athletes as relates to

their responsibilities to provide accurate and updated whereabouts

information to their ADOs. In addition, WADA is in contact with NADA and is

being kept informed by NADA of follow-up measures in relation to this

situation.

Does WADA expect changes in relation to missed tests and

whereabouts as part of the ongoing World Anti-Doping Code review?

As part of the Code review and consultation currently underway, many

stakeholders have requested greater harmony among signatories in relation

to both the requirements and consequences of whereabouts information and

missed tests. These concerns will be addressed through a revision of the

existing International Standard for Testing, in parallel to the Code review.

As relates to sanctions for failure to provide whereabouts information and/or

missed tests, the first draft revision of the Code stipulates that the period of

ineligibility shall be at a minimum one year and at a maximum two years.

The second of three stakeholder consultation periods as relates to the Code

review is ongoing and may result in further changes to the proposal.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

* Words in bold are defined in the Code and other WADA documents:

Anti-Doping Organization (ADO): An organization that is responsible for

adopting rules for initiating, implementing or enforcing any part of the doping

control process. This includes, for example, the International Olympic

Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), other major

event organizations that conduct testing at their events, the World

Q&A: Missed Tests & Athlete Whereabouts Information

Updated: February 7, 2007

Page 4

Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), International Sports Federations (IFs), and

National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs).

Missed Test: A missed test is a situation in which an athlete is not available

for out-of-competition testing at the time and place he/she indicated he/she

would be.

Unannounced out-of-competition testing can be conducted anytime,

anywhere, and as such is the most effective means of deterrence and

detection of doping. To make out-of-competition testing possible and

efficient, and as part of their responsibilities, athletes are required to provide

their ADO with accurate whereabouts information and to update them if

needed.

A missed test must be differentiated from a refusal or failure to submit to

sample collection, which would occur after notification, for example, by

hiding from a doping control officer who was attempting to conduct a test.

Out-of-competition testing: Any doping control which is not in-

competition.

Registered Testing Pool: The pool of top level athletes established

separately by each IF and NADO who are subject to both in-competition and

out-of-competition testing as part of that IF’s or NADO’s test distribution

plan. Each IF must clearly define the specific criteria for inclusion of athletes

in its registered testing pool. For example, the criteria could be a specified

world ranking cut-off, a specified time standard, membership on a national

team, etc.

Results Management: Phase which includes the review of the finding,

possible hearings, and adjudication of possible sanctions.

Whereabouts Information: Information provided by the athlete or a

representative nominated by the athlete which details the athlete’s location

on a daily basis in order to enable testing.