DownloadReport on performance
Output 1.2 Detection Program
Our Detection Program focuses on doping control, with an emphasis on no-advance-notice sample collection.
| Output 1.2 - Detection Program | |
|---|---|
| Measure | Result |
| Quality | |
| Inclusion of new detection methodologies as they become available, including testing for hGH | The current methodology for detecting the presence of growth hormone has been incorporated in ASADA's operational environment. |
| Testing conducted to maximise the possibility of an anti-doping rule violation detection | ASADA's testing program allows for targeting individual athletes for testing based on the existence of credible intelligence. |
| Delivery of the detection program involving testing and investigation with a priority of resources focused on those athletes and support personnel at greater risk of doping | ASADA incorporated case management protocols during 2006-07 to utilise credible intelligence in order to manage individual cases of alleged doping. |
| Full compliance with national and international responsibilities relating to anti-doping codes and agreements | ASADA's testing program in 2006-07 complied with the Code and relevant National Anti-Doping scheme. |
| Quantity | |
| Ninety per cent of athlete tests conducted within the test distribution plan | ASADA's drug testing program resulted in 91 per cent of planned tests being conducted. |
| At least 4,200 government-funded tests (and endeavour to influence sporting bodies to make user-pays contributions for additional testing) | ASADA conducted 4,264 government-funded tests for the period 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. |
Our Doping Control Program
The ASADA Doping Control Program includes the planning, selection and notification
of athletes for sample collection, the sample collection process, application of intelligence gathering and investigation
techniques, and management of evidence and results.
Sample collection involves the collection of blood and/or urine samples by a skilled team of accredited Doping Control Officers.
To comply with the Code, the analysis of the samples must be conducted by a WADA-accredited laboratory. In Australia, the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory - part of the National Measurement Institute - is a WADA-accredited laboratory, and we use its services.
Test Distribution Plan
ASADA's comprehensive Doping Control Program involves the development of a Test Distribution Plan (TDP). The TDP allocates tests in line with performance measures, across a range of Australian sports.
The TDP distributes the following categories of testing:
- in-competition and out-of-competition testing
- urine and blood samples
- advance-notice and no-advance-notice testing, and
- government-funded and user-pays testing.
Athletes assessed by ASADA and their sporting administration bodies as being elite athletes may be selected for testing under the Doping Control Program on either a random or targeted basis. Article 5.1.3 of the Code makes it clear that, 'athletes have no right to expect they will be tested only on a random basis'. Similarly, the Code 'does not impose any reasonable suspicion or probable cause requirement for target testing'.
The 2006-07 TDP planned for 7,657 samples to be collected. ASADA collected 91 per cent of the allocation within the TDP, which is above the performance measure of 90 per cent. The TDP incorporated the planning of doping controls during the Melbourne 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships event. Tests were conducted in accordance with agreed case management principles and the International Standard for Testing.
Total tests conducted
| Client | Test type |
Total tests completed |
|---|---|---|
| Government-funded tests | Out-of-competition |
2,637 |
In-competition |
1,627 |
|
Total government-funded |
4,264 |
|
| User-pays tests | Out-of-competition |
1,400 |
In-competition |
976 |
|
Total user-pays |
2,376 |
|
| Melbourne 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships | In-competition |
313 |
TOTAL |
6,953 |
In 2006-07, ASADA conducted 6,953 tests on Australian and international athletes. ASADA's 2006/07 testing program represents a 10 per cent increase on tests conducted in the 2005-06 financial year (excluding 1,287 user pays tests conducted during the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games).
ASADA's Doping Control Program is supported by either government funding or in accordance with user-pays arrangements with Australian sporting bodies or other anti-doping organisations.
In 2006-07 ASADA collected 4,264 government-funded tests across 65 sports. The total includes 416 samples collected from members of the Australian team for the Melbourne 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships. We collected a similar total number of blood samples in 2006-07 (823) as 2005-06 (847).
User-pays tests
In 2006-07 ASADA collected 2,376 user-pays tests for Australian sporting bodies or other organisations. In addition, we collected 313 samples during the Melbourne 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships period through a user-pays agreement with FINA.
Other major sporting events where ASADA conducted user-pays testing in 2006-07 included the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, the Union Cyclist Internationale World Cup Track Cycling, and the 2007 Arafura Games.
International clients that entered into user-pays agreements with ASADA included WADA and the Association of National Anti-Doping Organisations (ANADO).
Sporting administration bodies to enter user-pays agreements with ASADA in 2006-07 included the Australian Football League, A-League, National Rugby League, Australian Rugby Union, and Cricket Australia.
ASADA entered into user-pays contracts with state and territory governments to provide doping control and education services to athletes competing at a state and territory level. These agreements were made with the Queensland, South Australian and Western Australian governments.
AT THE LAB
Doping control statistics for the period 1989 to 30 June 2007 are shown in Appendix A.
No advance notice
No-advance-notice testing is considered to be the most effective form of doping control as it minimises the opportunity for an athlete to manipulate their sample. No-advance-notice testing ensures that a testing authority such as ASADA can plan for the sample collection to occur during periods when doping is likely to have the greatest performance benefit.
Doping control conducted with no advance notice acts as a deterrent to athletes considering using performance-enhancing substances and/or methods, as they may be tested anytime, anywhere and without warning.
In 2006-07 ASADA collected 97 per cent of the 4,264 government-funded tests with no advance notice. This is an increase from the previous year's result of 84 per cent and represents the highest proportion of no-advance-notice sample collections ever conducted by ASDA or ASADA. The no-advance-notice percentage for out-of-competition testing in 2006-07 was 95 per cent.
| 6,953 | Samples collected |
| 74 | Number of countries from which athletes were selected for doping control |
| 2,220 | Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool |
| 823 | Blood samples collected |
| 4,136 | Samples collected with no advance notice |
| 24 | Anti-doping rule violations |
Investigations
ASADA is authorised under the ASADA Act to investigate possible violations of the anti-doping rules. The primary purpose of our investigations is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to make a finding that an individual may have committed an anti-doping rule violation as defined by the NAD Scheme and the Code. ASADA conducts investigations in accordance with the best practice case handling standards specified by the Australian Government Investigation Standards.
During the 2006 - 2007 financial year ASADA opened 90 new cases. Twelve of these were a result of information provided to ASADA via the Stamp Out Doping Hotline and 15 were referrals from other government and law enforcement agencies. Investigations into these and existing cases involved the conduct of 214 interviews and resulted in the closure of 79 investigations.
The most extensive investigation conducted by ASADA during the year was into
the sport
of weightlifting. The investigation was launched on 17 March 2006 by the ASADA
Chairman Richard Ings. The investigation was headed up by internationally
respected anti-doping investigator Mr Richard Young. ASADA utilised its new
information sharing powers to work cooperatively with two state police forces
and an international WADA accredited laboratory
to fully examine the allegations.
The first stage of the investigation was completed in December 2006 and ASADA
was able to announce that the Weightlifting report had found evidence of organised
distribution and supply channels for a range of prohibited substances including
steroids, human growth hormone and the stimulant benzylpiperazine (BZP). This
investigation was an early test
of ASADA's enhanced capabilities in achieving pure performance in sport, and
proved
to be ground-breaking in the international anti-doping arena.
Detection partnerships
We have continued to build on our strong relationships with the other government and law enforcement agencies during 2006-07.
We continue to forge a strong relationship with the Australian Customs Service to strengthen the exchange of potential doping related information. This exchange has informed our detection program in relation to the importation and seizure of prohibited substances, methods of concealment and possible searches of people of interest.
The sharing of information between ASADA and the Australian Customs Service
culminated in the job shadowing of one of our employees for three weeks during
2006-07. This job shadowing gave us an insight into Customs' internal investigation
and intelligence operations.
We have also progressed the development of memorandums of understanding with other Australian Government departments, and have liaised successfully with the respective police forces from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland on several individual matters.
ASADA established the Stamp Out Doping Hotline for athletes, coaches and
the public
to provide ASADA investigators with information about doping in Australian sport.
The Stamp Out Doping Hotline is a confidential service that enables anyone to provide information on any anti-doping rule violation, such as the use of performance-enhancing substances.
Information can be provided by calling the hotline phone number or through a secure email address.
The Stamp Out Doping Hotline is another mechanism ASADA uses to ensure those athletes who choose to break the anti-doping rules of sport are removed from competition.