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Download the 2003-2004 ASDA Annual Report (Acrobat PDF). NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view this file. To download Acrobat Reader click here. |
Chairperson’s message
The 2003-04 Annual Report represents the fourteenth such report issued since the inception of ASDA in 1990. It has been a year of challenge and achievement with the passage of the ASDA Amendment Bill through the Parliament in March and the deployment of the most intense pre-Olympics testing and education program ever conducted by the Agency. The past year could be described as one of transition, as the legal and policy frameworks for sport became aligned to the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code). ASDA continued to deliver a world-class anti-doping program with a full and successful International Standards Organisation (ISO) audit of the Agency’s drug testing program against the ISO 9001: 2000 and International Standard for Doping Control (ISDC) as evidence of this. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) resultsASDA continued to measure its efficiency and effectiveness through monitoring deliverables and KPIs as set out in the Operational and Strategic Plans. In this way outputs and outcomes were monitored regularly across all Agency areas. Auditing of key operational processes and functions complemented the performance data available to management, myself and my colleagues on the ASDA Board. Of particular note was the Agency’s performance against several KPIs where targets were exceeded. The measure of ASDA’s deterrent effect showed an overall result of 92 percent and client satisfaction with ASDA’s services was at 98 percent. The Board was extremely pleased with these results, which demonstrated that Australian sport continued to believe that ASDA’s programs deter athletes from doping and met client needs. A summary of ASDA’s performace against its KPIs is at Appendix A. Drug testing programASDA conducted 6,615 tests for the year. Under its government funded program ASDA completed 3,796 tests, 72 percent of which were conducted with No Advance Notice. No Advance Notice is widely seen as the most effective form of testing. This was the highest number of No Advance Notice tests ever conducted by the Agency in a financial year. ASDA also continued to implement a high quality blood-testing program with 581 tests conducted across 16 sports. Of a particular note the Agency conducted 267 tests on behalf of the International Rugby Board (IRB) for the Rugby World Cup. With the analytical support of the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory (ASDTL), ASDA was able to respond almost immediately to the discovery of the new designer steroid Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) in the United States (US). ASDA undertook re-screening of stored samples for THG with no positive test results ensuing. The Agency also undertook an intensive testing program focussing on all Australian Olympic squad members in the lead-up to the Athens Games. The Agency committed to conducting at least one out-of-competition (OOC) drug test on every Australian team member in the period from 1 January to 13 August 2004. ASDA achieved this goal prior to the Games beginning on 13 August 2004. Education and communicationWith the introduction of the Code in the lead up to the Athens Olympics, and the consequential changes to sport anti-doping policies, the need for ASDA to provide education and information to sport, athletes, coaches and other support staff had never been greater. The complexities of the Code, including the introduction of new rules regarding the provision of athlete whereabouts information and Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), placed considerable strain on the Agency’s capacity to ensure all athletes and sports were fully aware of their rights and responsibilities. In all 7,706 athletes, coaches, administrators and medical staff participated in 274 face-to-face education programs. A further 6,209 callers utilised ASDA’s Hotline service and ASDA sent 14,000 direct mail items to clients. A high level of media interaction occurred with the Agency processing more than 200 enquires and providing 70 interviews. ASDA legislationAustralia’s parliament passed ASDA’s legislative amendments in March 2004. These ammendments came into effect on 30 July 2004. These amendments will enable ASDA to:
These amendments were essential for ASDA to fulfill its responsibilities as a National Anti-Doping Organisation under the Code. Code implementationASDA undertook a number of significant projects to ensure it adapted to the Code’s requirements. Particularly noteworthy was a review of the collection and management of athlete whereabouts information. The review examined key elements of the Code and the management of athlete whereabouts information within Australia. ASDA produced a detailed discussion paper, which was then used within Government and at forums involving various NFs and elite athletes. ASDA, in conjunction with with the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), worked extensively with Australia’s NFs to help them understand the Code’s requirements and adopt Code compliant policies. Code developmentThe Agency continued to make substantial contributions to the World Anti-Doping Program. In March 2004 WADA released its Result Management Guidelines – which were developed by ASDA and provided to WADA for the benefit of all Code stakeholders. ASDA also made major contributions to:
ASDA granted WADA rights to the TUE protocols developed by the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC) to further assist with the harmonisation of anti-doping rules worldwide. ASDA continued to take a lead role, through the International Anti-Doping Arrangement (IADA)-WADA working group, in developing models of best practice. ASDA’s commitment to developing the World Anti-Doping Program contributed to improving the international response to doping and assisted in maintaining ASDA’s programs as examples of international best practice. Completion of the WADA drug testing program contractASDA played a central role in the Drug Free Sport Consortium’s (DFSC’s) delivery of the WADA drug testing program since March 2000. At the end of 2003 WADA took its program in-house. The DFSC, on behalf of WADA, conducted over 14,000 tests on athletes from over 100 countries without legal challenges or major controversies. This illustrates the competence of ASDA, and its Canadian and Norwegian partners, to manage complex programs. ASDA’s financial performance and corporate governanceThe Agency continued to enhance its financial management and corporate governance by:
ASDA incurred a small 0.5 percent financial loss for the year largely attributable to unforeseen changes in income from international sources. The budget variance for 2003-04 was minus 0.1 percent, indicating the effectivness of the Agency’s financial controls. The Agency faced increased overheads and variations in income. To meet these challenges, ASDA has decreased expenditure, identified efficiencies and secured additional income. Reduction in expenditure has occurred across all Agency areas and has resulted in very tight cost controls. The year aheadASDA’s outlook for 2004-05 includes:
Thanks to the government’s commitment, ASDA is well positioned to maintain Australia’s strong anti-doping stance and ensure that future challenges are successfully managed. These challenges will be many, but I am confident ASDA will continue to build on Australia’s already tough approach to doping in sport.
Dr Brian Sando OAM |
© Copyright ASDA 2004 | ASDA Homepage Australian Sports Drug Agency | PO Box 345 DEAKIN ACT 2600 Phone: +61 (0)2 6206 0200 | Fax: +61 (0)2 6206 0201 | Email: asada@asada.gov.au | |
