Menu Menu

Doping control process

Doping control (also known as testing or sample collection) follows rigorous rules established by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), which supports the principals of human rights and proportionality.

This short video provides you with basic information, step by step through the doping control process:

         

 VIDEO IN ENGLISH                               VIDEO WITH RUSSIAN SUBTITLES


Photo: Martin Henriksson

WHO CAN BE TESTED – WHEN?
Bandy players of all levels can be tested at any time and place. For instance, testing may occur in conjunction with a competition or training, or where the player lives or otherwise spend his/her time.


WHOW DECIDES ABOUT TESTING?
Under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) testing can be initiated by the Federation of International Bandy (FIB), National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADO), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or Major Event Organizers. Sample collection is always carried out by trained and authorized officials.


ATHLETES RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN TESTED
Rights:

  • To be accompanied by a representative of their choice (coach, doctor or friend etc).
  • To have an interpreter (if required).
  • To request a delay in reporting to the doping control station for valid reasons (award ceremony, media commitments, further competition, medical treatment etc).
  • To ask for additional information about the doping control process.
  • To get any comments or concerns you may have recorded on the doping control form.
  • To receive a copy of the doping control form, when the process is finalized.

Responsibilities:

  • To remain within sight of the doping control official at all times.
  • To produce a valid identification (driver’s licence, competition accreditation etc).
  • To report immediately for sample collection, unless there are valid reasons for a delay.
  • To comply with sample collection procedures.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF TESTS AND ANALYSES

There are currently two types of tests, urine and blood. The doping control officer may collect only urine or blood, or both. Once the samples are collected and sealed, they are normally sent to a WADA accredited or approved laboratory to be analyzed. When required, samples may also be sent to other laboratories. Since the samples are coded, the laboratory staff will never know whose samples they analyze.

The samples are normally only used for direct detection of prohibited substances and/or indirect methods, through the screening of certain parameters used to establish individual longitudinal profiles, often related to as the Athletes Biological Passport (ABP). The ABP includes a hematological and a steroidal module and provides valuable information to direct target testing or investigations more effectively. When required, samples may also be analyzed for other purposes, e.g. for forensic analysis.

Normal analysis may take up to two weeks. The residual volume of an already analyzed samples are normally discarded. Prioritized samples may, however, be stored for further analyzes or reanalysis within ten years from the date of sample collection, e.g. to make use of new analytical methods.


TEST RESULTS
There are three possible results following the analysis of a sample:

  • Negative – no prohibited substances or methods was found.
  • Atypical finding (AF) – a prohibited substance, which can be produced naturally, has been identified outside of its normal range, which requires further investigation.
  • Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) – a prohibited substance (or its metabolites or markers) have been identified.

If the test result is an AAF, you will be contacted by FIB, or the relevant testing authority, about the further results management process. You may also be contacted due to an AF, as part of the follow-up investigation, depending on the nature of the finding.

Since samples can be reanalyzed, athletes may be confronted with an AAF up to ten years after the sample collection.


Find out more: