Global Skills Survey – Testing Officers / Managers  :  Main Findings / European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). - Montreal : World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), 2023

• GLDF | Global Learning and Development Framework

This report presents a brief analysis of the main findings collated from respondents acting as Testing Officers / Managers in the anti-doping industry and who took part in the Global Skills Survey 2023. For the purpose of this report, we mainly concentrated on univariable questions and keep the same order as the one used through the survey.

Testing Role Descriptor / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

• GLDF | Global Learning and Development Framework - Role Descriptor - Testing

The role descriptor will support the anti-doping industry by clarifying the main characteristics of key anti-doping roles. It can be used to support the development of a job description when an Anti-Doping Organization (ADO) aims to recruit a Testing practitioner. ADOs should tailor this role descriptor to their specific needs and realities.

Testing Professional Standard / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

• Version 1.0
• GLDF | Global Learning and Development Framework - Testing

The professional standard aims to support the anti-doping industry by providing a benchmark of competence for a specific role. Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) can use the professional standard to support the evaluation of competence and importantly to support practitioner development by identifying professional development needs.

Updates to documents relating to the narcotic tramadol that is on the 2024 Prohibited List / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

WADA has published the following updates related to the narcotic tramadol that has been added to the 2024 Prohibited List; and, will be prohibited in competition, effective 1 January 2024: 

1.) An update to the 2024 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes, which relates to tramadol. 

2.) A Technical Letter dealing with the Minimum Reporting Level (MRL) for Tramadol

3.) Tramadol-related Factsheets

World Anti-Doping Agency 2022 annual report / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2023

CONTENTS

• Message from the President and Director General
• Our Team
• The Year in Numbers
• Lead
• Grow Impact
• Be Athlete Centered
• Collaborate and Unite
• Be Visible
• World Anti-Doping Program
• 2022 Financial Overview
• 2022 Financial Statements

In September 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Kenyan Athlete Esther Birundu Borura after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone).

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing and accepted the sanction proposed by the AIU. She stated that she had purchased and injected the substance.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. Because she had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 23 November 2023 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 6 September 2023.

In January 2023 Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the amateur golf player after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Enobosarm (Ostarine) in a low concentration.

Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in her defence and she was heard for the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand.

The Athlete denied the intentional use of the substance and at first she could not explain how the substance had entered her system. Supported by experts the Athlete attempted to find the source of the prohibited substance.

The Athlete ruled out sunscreen, make-up, medications and skin-to-skin contact as source because none of the identified substances contained Ostarine. She believed that a kiss with a bodybuilder or tasting of a protein custard power likely had caused to positive test result.

The Tribunal finds that the presence of a prohibited substance had been established in the Athlete's sample and accordingly that she committed an anti-doping rule violation.

Following assessed of the evidence the Panel rejected the kiss from the bodybuilder as being the probable source of ingestion. Considering the circumstances, and on a balance of probabilites, the Panel deems it more probable than not, that the custard pudding in question was contaminated and that the Athlete unintentionally ingested Ostarine through two spoonsful of it.

The Panel accepts that the Athlete's violation was not intentional and that there were grounds for No Significant Fault or Negligence. The Panel deems that the amateur Athlete acted with a light degree of fault and that she is a truthful and a credible witness.

Therefore the Tribunal decides by majority on 3 October 2023 to impose a 6 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 31 January 2023.

In a separate decision the Tribunal addressed the issue of costs requested by the Athlete.

The Athlete argued that there had been delays and that DFSNZ could have done more to investigate whether the violation was not intentional. Instead she made expenses in order to prove that she acted with No Significant Fault or Negligence.

The Tribunal concludes that the Athlete was unsuccessful in her attempt to establish no fault or negligence and that she had a sanction imposed upon her, the proceeding was not without merit. The Tribunal is also not persuaded that DFSNZ failed to act in good faith.

The Tribunal acknowledges that the Athlete went to considerable expenses through this process. Further the Tribunal recognises that the Athlete had to go some distance to establish that she bore No Significant Fault.

However, the Tribunal is not satisfied that this is an exceptional case where costs should be awarded. It is noted that the Athlete already had benefitted from DFSNZ’s Legal Assistance Fund.

Viewing the Tribunal’s decision against the principle of ‘the loser paying the winner’ DFSNZ proved the ADRVs, in that the prohibited substance was in the athlete’s system, but it failed to prove the ingestion was intentional.

As a result the Tribunal is not persuaded that the circumstances justifiy an award of costs against DFSNZ. Therefore the Tribunal decides on 19 October 2023 that costs will lie as they fall.

In April 2022 NADOMALTA reported an anti-doping rule violation against the hockey player Steve Portelli after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold.

Following notification the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sports (AIMS).

Although the Parties went into a case resolution agreement the Athlete did not respond to the opportunity to establish that his use of Cannabis was a case of Substance of Abuse. Consequently he failed to demonstrate that his use occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance.

The AIMS rejected the Athlete's request for an exemption to be permitted to coach. Further the AIMS considers that there had been delays in the proceedings not attributed to the Athlete.

Therefore the AIMS decides on 18 May 2023 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 13 March 2022.

In July 2023 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Ugandees Athlete Janat Chemusto after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone (Nandrolone). Following notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete filed a statement in her defence.

The Athlete asserted with medical documents that the prescribed medication she had used for her condition probably were the source of the prohibited substance. Yet, the AIU concluded that her medication could not explain the presence of Nandrolone in her sample.

The AIU determined that the Athlete failed to demonstrate that the violation was not intentional. As a result the AIU offered the Athlete a 1 year reduction when she timely returned a signed Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

Following reminders by the AIU in October 2023 the Athlete ultimately returned the Admission Form 3 days beyond the set deadline. Thereupon she failed to demonstrate with evidence that her signed Admission Form indeed had been completed on or before the date of the deadline.

The AIU establishes that the Athlete failed to respond and to  confirm that she disputed the consequences of the violation in her case by the deadlines specified by the AIU. Accordingly the Athlete is deemed to have waived her right to a hearing and accepted the consequences.

Therefore the AIU decides on 17 November 2023 to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 13 July 2023.

In May 2023 World Rugby reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Paraguayan ruby player Estefano Aranda Caceres after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis.

Following notification the Athlete admitted the violation, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by World Rugby. The Athlete acknowledged the unintentional use of the substance whereas Word Rugby deemed that the violation was due to a Substance of Abuse.

Therefore World Rugby decides on 20 September 2023 to impose a 3 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 8 May 2023.