Announcement

Anti-Doping Testing – Additional Health & Safety Procedures – COVID-19

23 July, 2020

Please find enclosed information for athletes and coaches on additional procedures for sample collection (urine / blood) / anti-doping testing during the current COVID-19 situation.

These new procedures follow the WADA International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI), however there are new elements that take into account the health and safety of your athletes, as well as sample collection personnel.

The procedures, introduced by WADA, will be used by National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) and Testing Service Providers who are working on behalf of the BWF during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What does this mean?

As “lockdowns” are eased and athletes become more available for testing, BWF and NADOs will increase numbers of tests back to a levels they were before COVID-19 started.

The updated sample collection processes:

are safe and will be based on the relevant national health regulations in countries where sample collection is taking place.
are implemented to further protect your athletes’ health and minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection during sample collection.
require additional personal information from your athletes during the sample collection process.

What you need to know and how has the process changed?

Most parts of the Doping Control Process are the same and follow the WADA International Standard for Testing & Investigations (ISTI). However, some additional steps have been included for the athlete’s / sample collection personnel safety. These changes include:

Social distancing will be maintained at all times between the athlete and Doping Control Personnel (DCP) – this will vary depending on recommendations made by national health authorities;
No direct physical contact between athlete and DCP, such as shaking hands.
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including gloves and face masks.
Hand washing and sanitising will happen more frequently by all parties present during the doping control process.
The use of a COVID-19 safeguarding questionnaire before the sample collection can begin. The answers to the questionnaire will allow the DCP to establish if it is safe for the sample collection to take place. The questions must be answered to the best of the athlete’s knowledge.