Doping Control

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Definition - What does Doping Control mean?

Doping control is specific to the athletic industry and refers to a process conducted by a doping control officer (DCO), or a witness chaperone, who selects an athlete to submit to a drug screening while in-or-out of competition. Doping control is a formal procedure that involves notifying the athlete, accompanying them to the testing site, and collecting a urine and/or blood specimen under direct supervision. All collected samples are transferred to a laboratory for examination approved by the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA).

SureHire explains Doping Control

When choosing athletes for drug tests, doping control employs a methodical selection process based on random, established (set position), or targeted criteria and is overseen by a DCO. A DCO will explain the procedure in detail, illustrating the athlete’s rights and responsibilities from the point of notification to completion of the doping control form. To avoid tampering, a DCO will request the subject to remove all clothing from the navel down to the knees, rolling up shirt sleeves to the elbow, for an unconcealed view. The subject is given a sample vessel to evacuate urine into up to a prescribed level marker.

At this stage, a sample kit containing two bottles designated as “A” and “B” are used for collecting a specimen of urine. Once testing is finished, the samples are sealed and labeled with the attached doping control form. Personal information on the form and bottles is maintained for confidentiality reasons following delivery to a WADA-sanctioned laboratory for analysis.

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