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Output 1.1 Drug testing program - Detection
Doping Control
The 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 entails the collection of blood and/or urine samples by a skilled team of accredited Doping Control Officials.
The analysis of the samples must be conducted by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory. In Australia the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory (ASDTL), part of the National Measurement Institute (NMI), is a WADA accredited laboratory.
ASADA’s Doping Control Program is compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standard for Testing.
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
- urine and blood samples
- Advance Notice and No Advance Notice
- Government Funded (GF) and user-pay (UP).
Athletes assessed by ASADA and their National Sporting Organisations (NSO) as being elite may be selected for Doping Control on either a random or targeted basis. In its comment on Article 5.1.3, the World Anti-Doping 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 2005–06 TDP incorporated the Out-of-Competition Doping Control plan for Australian team members of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games and the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
The 2005–06 TDP planned for 7,082 tests to be conducted. ASADA collected 93 percent of the allocation within the TDP exceeding the performance measure of 90 percent. The TDP did not incorporate the planning of Doping Control during the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games period.
Total tests conducted
In 2005–06 ASADA conducted a total of 7,585 tests on Australian and International athletes, this represents an increase of 23 percent in the total number of tests from 2004-05.
ASADA’s Doping Control program is supported by either Government Funding or in accordance with user-pay arrangements involving sporting bodies or other anti-doping organisations.
In 2005–06, ASADA collected 4,547 Government Funded tests, across 82 sports. The total includes 433 samples collected from members of the Australian Commonwealth Games team and an additional 282 samples collected from Australian and International athletes preparing to compete at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. ASADA did not reach the forecast testing numbers of 300 Government Funded Commonwealth Games samples; as to maximise detection capability in response to field intelligence, the test plan prioritised high cost tests resulting in a reduced overall number.
ASADA collected 28 percent more blood samples in 2005–06 than in 2004-05, with a total of 847 blood samples collected. A portion of these samples included a new process for the detection of hGH.
User-pay testing
In 2005–06 ASADA collected 2,033 user-pay tests for domestic and International clients. In addition, ASADA collected 1,005 samples during the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games period in a user-pay agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation, marginally exceeding the performance measure of 1,000 samples. A report on the Doping Control program implemented at these Games is included on page 23.
Other major international sporting events where ASADA conducted user-pay testing in 2005–06 include the World Canoe Slalom Championships, World Canoe Marathon Championships, International Triathlon Union World Duathlon Championships, Oceania Shooting Championships and the World Surf Life Saving Championships.
International clients who entered user-pay agreements with ASADA included WADA and the Association of National Anti-Doping Organisations (ANADO).
National Sporting Organisations to enter user-pay agreements with ASADA in 2005–06 included the Australian Football League (AFL), A-League, National Rugby League, Australian Rugby Union, and Cricket Australia.
ASADA entered into user-pay 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 Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australian and Western Australian Governments.
Doping Control statistics for the period 1989 to 30 June 2006 is at Appendix A.
No Advance Notice
In 2005–06 ASADA collected 84 percent of the 4,547 Government Funded tests with No Advance Notice. This is an increase from the previous year’s result of 76 percent and represents the highest proportion of No Advance Notice sample collections ever conducted by the Authority.
The No Advance Notice percentage for Out-of-Competition testing was 80 percent.
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 his or her sample. No Advance Notice testing ensures the testing authority can plan for the sample collection to occur during periods where 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.
“Knowing that they [athletes] could be tested at anytime would be a great deterrent.”
Athlete comment, ASADA survey 2005–06
| 7,585 | Samples colected |
| 3,846 | Athletes selected for Doping Control* |
| 2,440 | Athletes in the Registered Testing Pool |
| 847 | Blood samples colected |
| 84 | Percent of samples colected with No Advance Notice |
| 27 | Anti-Doping Rule Violations |
* This figure does not include athletes selected for In-Competition Doping Control during the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games period.
Detection methodologies
The implementation of new detection methodologies as they become available is crucial to increasing the likelihood of detection of prohibited substances and methods.
ASADA introduced testing for hGH in the domestic Doping Control program in the lead up to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. The In-Competition Doping Control program ASADA conducted at the Melbourne Games incorporated sample collection for hGH. ASADA is one of the few National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADO’s) to test for hGH.
“Drug cheats never think they will be detected. ASADA have to chase the technology of the producers of the chemicals and get in-front.”
Athlete comment, ASADA survey 2005–06
Building Detection partnerships
ASADA continued its strong relationship with the Australian Customs Service (ACS) throughout 2005–06. A Memorandum of Understanding was developed between the two organisations to strengthen the exchange of information including details of seized goods. This tool has helped inform ASADA’s testing and investigations programs and has been instrumental in allowing access to critical doping related information.
As well as regular reports received from ACS regarding seizures of Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs, exchange of information between the two organisations increased regarding new designer steroids, methods of concealment and possible searches on persons of interest.
The level of interaction between ASADA and ACS increased in the lead up to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. As the number of athletes coming into the country increased, information provided by ASADA was used to further strengthen screening processes.
ASADA was invited to participate in an ACS ‘Desktop Planning Exercise’ in February 2006 to help educate officials regarding performance enhancing drugs and to develop plans for dealing with possible seizures during the Commonwealth Games.
ASADA looks forward to the continued development of this strong partnership.
Investigations
ASADA is authorised under its legislation to investigate possible violations of the anti-doping rules.
Features of the ASADA’s investigative functions include:
- multi-agency coordination of investigations into alleged ADRVs
- impartial, objective, equitable and balanced conduct of investigations
- avoidance of any improper influence and conflicts of interest
- use of best practice methodology in all investigations.
The primary purpose of ASADA’s investigations is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to make a finding that an individual may have committed an ADRV as defined by the National Anti- Doping scheme and the WADA Code.
In particular, ASADA may investigate any athlete or athlete support person defined by the ASADA Act and the National Anti-Doping Scheme in relation to:
- The presence of a prohibited substance or its metabolites or markers in a bodily sample.
- The use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method.
- A refusal by an athlete to provide a sample or an evasion of sample collection.
- The violation of requirements regarding availability for Out-of-Competition testing, including failing
- to provide required whereabouts information and missed tests.
- The tampering or attempted tampering with any part of Doping Control.
- The possession of prohibited substances and methods.
- The trafficking of prohibited substances and methods.
- The administering of a prohibited substance or method to any athlete, or the provision of assistance, encouragement, aiding, abetting or covering up of any other type of complicity involving an ADRV or attempted ADRV.
In March 2006, ASADA announced an anti-doping investigation into the sport of weightlifting. ASADA expects to announce its findings of this investigation in late 2006.
In 2006–07 a case management system will be implemented that allows for complete management of any matter from receipt of an allegation through to a hearing.
Stamp Out Doping Hotline
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, for example the use of performance enhancing substances.
Information can be provided by calling a Hotline phone number or through
a secure
email address.
The Stamp Out Doping Hotline is another mechanism that ASADA will use to ensure those athletes who choose to break the anti-doping rules of sport, are removed from competition.
Results Management
With the introduction of the ASADA legislation a new Register of Findings (RoF) was established to record ADRVs.
All ADRVs occurring between 1 July 2005 and 13 March 2006 were placed on the Register of Notifiable Events (RNE) and any ADRV occurring after 14 March 2006 was placed on the new RoF.
A total of 27 ADRVs were recorded on the RNE / RoF in 2005–06. This involved 27 Australian athletes from 14 different sports. The sports of weightlifting and bodybuilding recorded four positive test results each during the year.
Of the 27 athletes entered on the Register, 24 recorded an adverse analytical finding, while three failed to comply with a request to provide a sample.
Of the 24 adverse analytical findings a range of prohibited substances were detected including anabolic steroids (two), stimulants (ten), cannabinoids (eleven) and diuretics (one).
A separate List of International Incidents (LII) is kept by ASADA to record ADRVs committed in Australia by international athletes. One athlete from the sport of weightlifting was placed on the LII in 2005–06.
The 27 ADRVs recorded by Australian athletes is a significant increase on the 16 ADRVs committed in 2004-05.
Figure 10: Register of Notifiable Events and Register of Findings Trend 1998 TO 2006
Breakdowns of the RNE / RoF entries for 2005–06 are at Appendies B (Adobe PDF, 44kb) and D. Details of the LII is at Appendix C.
During 2005–06 no athlete challenged ASADA’s decision to place their name on the RNE / RoF through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Under sub-section 14(4) of the ASADA Act an athlete or support person has a right to apply to the AAT for a review of a decision of the ASADA to enter his or her name and particulars on the RoF.