Doping Control: FAQs for Athlete Whereabouts
Who is required to submit Athlete Whereabouts Information?
Athletes, who have been notified by ASADA in writing of inclusion in ASADA's Registered Testing Pool (RTP), are required to provide quarterly Athlete Whereabouts Information.
What information am I required to provide?
Athletes are required to provide and/or maintain address and contact information in addition to providing one (1) location per calendar day where they nominate to be available for Out-of-Competition sample collection and the start time of the one (1) hour that they will be at that location.
Athletes must provide a location and start time for every day of their quarterly calendar and ensure that they have completed all other mandatory fields of information.
Why does ASADA require Athlete Whereabouts Information?
Under the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code), the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) Act 2006 and ASADA Regulations 2006, which contain the National Anti-Doping Scheme, athletes are required to provide complete, current and accurate Athlete Whereabouts Information to enable them to be located for No Advance Notice, Out-of-Competition sample collection.
The Athlete Whereabouts Information provides ASADA with the means to conduct effective doping-control programs.
How do I submit my quarterly Athlete Whereabouts Information?
Athletes can submit their quarterly Athlete Whereabouts Form to ASADA:
- online, using the Athlete Whereabouts Online System (AWOS); or
Athlete Whereabouts
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
Mail: PO Box 339, Curtin ACT 2605
Fax: (02) 6222 4210
(International +61 2 6222 4210).
How do I register for access to the Athlete Whereabouts Online System?
Athletes are required to contact the ASADA Anti-Doping Hotline on 1800 020 506 to register for a password to the Athlete Whereabouts Online System. Following your registration, ASADA will mail you a password.
Am I restricted to nominating certain types of locations?
No. Athletes can provide any type of location, including but not limited to, home, work, training and competition. However, the location must be accessible to a Doping Control Officer for the purpose of conducting sample collection eg. you would not be accessible if you are rowing on a lake.
Can I nominate competitions?
For days that you expect to be competing, you may nominate the competition location and any one hour period when you will be competing. You do not have to provide the start time of the competition.
You should only nominate a competition location for the days that you are competing, not days adjacent to the competition. For those days, you should nominate another type of location. Alternatively, you may enter transit if you are travelling to a competition. Transit cannot be entered for more than three days in a row.
You should ensure that the information you provide is accurate as you may receive a Failure to Provide Information (FTPI) notice from ASADA for incomplete or inaccurate information. For example, if a competition is a three day event, and competition has been entered for six days, this would be considered inaccurate information. The same would apply if you enter transit for days that you are not travelling.
What if at the time of submitting my quarterly Athlete Whereabouts Form I don't know the full details of a location eg. when I am on holidays?
You can use Partial Alternative Locations for these types of situations. A Partial Alternative Location requires a description and country. You must agree to provide complete location details at least 48 hours prior to the relevant date. Failure to do so may result in ASADA serving a written notice advising that you have failed to comply with a request to inform ASADA of your location (also known as Failure to Provide Information).
Can I give my log in details to a friend so they can update my information?
ASADA strongly advises against giving your user name and password to anyone. If your user name and password are used to login to the system, you will be accountable for any actions completed following the login. You should also keep your three (3) identity verification questions and answers confidential.
If you would like someone else to update your Athlete Whereabouts Information, you can complete an Authorised Representative Form and submit it to ASADA. ASADA will issue your Authorised Representative with their own unique user name and password which will enable them to log in to the AWOS system and enter information on your behalf.
Authorised Representatives will be required to establish their own identity verification questions to enable them to use the ASADA Anti-Doping Hotline. Assigning users of the Athlete Whereabouts Online System with their own unique user name and password is important for security and auditing purposes. It enables ASADA to distinguish the identity of any person who has entered or changed Athlete Whereabouts details.
What should I do if my Athlete Whereabouts Information changes?
Athletes must keep their Athletes Whereabouts Information up to date. Updates can be made via:
- ASADA's Athlete Whereabouts Online System;
- the ASADA Anti-Doping Hotline on 1800 020 506/International +61 2 6222 4288 (provided the athlete has registered for access to AWOS and recorded ID verification questions); or
- by mail or fax using an Athlete Whereabouts Form (available from Resources for Athlete Whereabouts) to:
Athlete Whereabouts
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority
Mail: PO Box 339, Curtin ACT 2605
Fax: (02) 6222 4210
(International +61 2 6222 4210).
When can updates to my Athlete Whereabouts Information be made?
Updates for a particular day must be received by ASADA by midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), of the day before.
What if I need to update my location for today but it is after midnight AEST deadline for updates?
You should contact the ASADA Anti-Doping Hotline on 1800 020 506.
If you incur a potential Missed Test because you were unable to make a late change, you will have an opportunity to provide an explanation before a Missed Test is declared. Your attempt to call ASADA will be recorded.
The midnight deadline for updates is necessary to maintain the effectiveness of ASADA’s doping control program.
Does ASADA provide confirmation of receipt for updates sent by fax or post?
No. In all circumstances, the responsibility will be on the athlete to call the ASADA Anti-Doping Hotline on 1800 020 506 or to access the Athlete Whereabouts Online System to ensure a fax/post update has been received by ASADA and entered on the Athlete Whereabouts Online System. ASADA will only enter updates that provide the required mandatory information.
What happens if I do not meet ASADA’s whereabouts requirements?
If you fail to meet ASADA’s Athlete Whereabouts Information requirements, you may receive written notice from ASADA that you have either failed to comply with a request to inform ASADA of your location (also known as Failure to Provide Information) or failed to be located for a sample after being requested to provide your location (also known as a Missed Test).
If you receive three (3) notices in an eighteen month period (starting from the date of the first notice) for either:
- failing to comply with a request to inform ASADA of their location; or
- failing to be located for a sample after being requested to provide their location; or
- a combination of (a) and (b) above totalling three notices,
ASADA may determine that an Anti-doping Rule Violation (ADRV) has occurred and your name and relevant details will be entered on its Register of Findings and your NSO will be informed. The sanction for the ADRV could range from a minimum of three months up to two years.
Related information:
This page last updated
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Copyright © 2008, Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA)
