COVID-19 : ADO Guidance / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2020
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has issued updated guidance for Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
WADA developed the guidance following consultation with ADOs, including National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), International Federations and Major Event Organizations as well as other organizations, such as the International Testing Agency (which is leading the pre-Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Task Force on behalf of the International Olympic Committee) and accredited laboratories, to determine how the anti-doping community can best operate in this challenging environment.
The guidance was refined following a teleconference meeting today of the WADA NADO Advisory Group, which provides expert advice in promoting effective doping control strategies and plans.
The updated ADO guidance covers a number of areas that may be affected by COVID-19, including the provision of whereabouts information, sample collection and transport to laboratories, sample analysis, education programs, investigations, result management, therapeutic use exemptions, compliance and other activities and obligations covered by the World Anti-Doping Program. While the document provides guidance specific to athletes, WADA is developing another resource that will address some specific concerns raised by athletes, which we aim to publish early next week and which will be adapted over time.
At a time when most countries are putting in place strict measures, this new situation for all is undoubtedly affecting the anti-doping system. Border closures, mandatory quarantines or isolations, cancellations of flights, social movement restrictions, office closures and cancellation of sporting events are all hindering the normal day-to-day work of those involved in anti-doping.
