Guidance for testing during COVID-19 pandemic / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2020
As a follow up to its initial COVID-19 testing guidance for Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) published on 6 May, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) provides an updated document, which has been renamed “Guidance for Testing during COVID-19 Pandemic”. This new Guidance was revised following a thorough review by WADA’s Strategic Testing Expert Group, with input from the World Health Organization and a group of National Anti-Doping Organizations.
The Guidance reflects the latest scientific knowledge on the evolving pandemic; as well as, the impact of COVID-19 on ADOs to date that was collected via WADA’s survey carried out in September 2020. It outlines how ADOs can best operate their testing programs in line with globally recommended health and hygiene procedures to protect the health and safety of athletes and sample collection personnel; and, in line with the International Standard for Testing and Investigations.
The Guidance includes the following enhancements:
- A detailed assessment process to determine the level of sample collection that can take place;
- Steps and procedures that an ADO should put in place prior to conducting a sample collection session;
- Additional direction on how to prioritize testing and athletes, plus measures for conducting In-Competition testing; and
- The testing of sample collection personnel for COVID-19 as an additional risk mitigation measure for ADOs to consider.
WADA remains available to assist ADOs in supporting and monitoring their anti-doping program implementation and will continue to publish updates regarding its response to COVID-19 as the situation evolves.
