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| Letter of
Transmittal
Australia's Anti-Doping Framework |
2001–2002 Highlights
National Anti-Doping ProgramASDA conducted 6 869 tests – the largest number of tests the Agency has ever delivered in a financial year. This represented an 11 percent increase in test numbers from 2000–2001. No Advance Notice testing accounted for two thirds of all Government-funded tests (2 527 tests from 3 849). ASDA supplied 3 020 tests to fee-for-service clients. Data collected during the year indicated 94 percent of Australian athletes believed they would be tested in the next 12 months. Eighty-eight percent of athletes perceived ASDA’s anti-doping program was effective in deterring doping. Twenty-five entries involving 20 athletes were made to ASDA’s Register of Notifiable Events – 17 athletes recorded positive test results while the remaining three athletes failed to comply when notified for a drug test. Blood TestingASDA expanded the scope of its testing by conducting 559 blood tests. Of these 415 were conducted out-of-competition, the majority with No Advance Notice. Blood samples were screened for the banned endurance enhancing substance EPO and, for the first time, other oxygen enhancing substances such as Aranesp and Dynepo. World Anti-Doping Code ConsultationASDA played a key role in developing the framework and supporting materials for the World Anti-Doping Code. This WADA coordinated project will ultimately provide a harmonised legal, policy and procedural framework for worldwide anti-doping activity. ASDA and the ASC initiated a consultation process to provide information to, and gather feedback from, Australian sport regarding the proposed World Anti-Doping Code. ASDA also provided regular advice about the World Code to the Minister for the Arts and Sport and other key stakeholders. Goodwill GamesASDA supplied anti-doping services to the 2001 Goodwill Games. The Agency conducted 382 tests including 24 blood tests at the Games, ensuring a strong anti-doping system was in place for this high profile sporting event. Continued International TestingASDA continued to be active in the DFSC – a consortium comprising the national anti-doping agencies of Australia, Canada and Norway. The DFSC completed 3 712 worldwide out-of-competition tests under the 2001 WADA testing program. ASDA contributed to all aspects of DFSC’s operations including the establishment of the WADA program’s legal framework. The Consortium secured the WADA testing program contract for 2002. Signed in November, this contract requires the completion of 4 500 tests worldwide by 31 December 2002. This work represented a significant enhancement to international athlete testing and the establishment of a level playing field for all athletes. National Anti-Doping ComplianceASDA and the ASC established the NSO Anti-Doping Assessment Process to assess the performance of NSOs against the anti-doping requirements of the ASC’s funding terms and conditions. The first round of assessment involved 56 sports. This process will continue in 2002–2003 to ensure Australia’s anti-doping system remains effective. The WADA Athlete Passport ProgramASDA played a key role in initiating an athlete passport system for WADA. This system was based on technology developed to manage ASDA’s drug testing program. The on-line passport system better enabled athletes to demonstrate their support for the fight against doping. ASDA helped WADA launch the system at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games where 700 athletes signed up. Information Services for the United StatesASDA provided significant help to the establishment of USADA, in particular USADA’s utilisation of ASDA’s purpose built drug testing database (Eugene). ASDA’s support helped USADA rapidly implement an effective anti-doping program in the United States of America. New Strategic PlanASDA finalised and implemented its 2001–2005 Strategic Plan. The strategic plan was the result of extensive consultation with stakeholders and sets a strong foundation for the Agency’s operations over the coming years. |
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