Swimming World Continues Series on Drug Testing From Athlete’s Point of View

PHOENIX, Arizona, September 12. SO far, USA Swimming athlete's representative Trent Staley has walked us through what swimmers can expect during in-competition testing and out-of-competition testing.

This week, we talk to Staley about what happens to the samples once they are collected, and what happens when samples test positive.

[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World] Thanks for taking the time to talk to me again today, Trent. So far, you've talked about in-competition and out-of-competition testing. What happens to the samples once they are acquired?

[Trent Staley] Let me answer this for a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) test as that makes up most of the tests done with our athletes. So, anyway, the samples are shipped to a testing facility after they have been sealed up by the athlete. I believe the largest test facility in the U.S. is at UCLA .(I could make a comment here as a USC Trojan about all the urine I have sent to Westwood, but I will refrain).

Once there, the "A" sample is tested without any connection to the athlete's name. The ID number on all of the testing materials is the only thing that the particular person testing the sample knows about the sample. This way, there is no conflict if the tester somehow knows the athlete or even just likes or dislikes their public persona.

Following the completion of the test, the ID number is matched back up with the athlete and a letter is sent to them notifying them that their test came back without issue or if the "A" sample came back positive, and if so what further steps must be taken.

[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World] What happens next?

[Trent Staley] This is the end of the road for a clean "A" sample.

But, if the test comes back positive from USADA, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) attorney is notified along with the athlete. The reason for this is that the USOC would be the prosecutor of the positive test.

Back to the athlete though, if he/she has been notified of a positive on the "A", they have the opportunity to name the time for testing of the "B" sample, and can even select the witnesses to the test. That way the athlete is further protected by having the chance to ensure the test is done properly.

Because there could have been a mistake in the testing of the "A", "A" samples are not supposed to be made public, allowing the test of the "B" to confirm the presence of an illegal substance.

Really if you think about it, if an "A" is made public before the "B" confirms the positive, it could tarnish a clean athlete's reputation or even impact their ability to gain sponsorship through no fault of their own.

In USADA rules, even if the "B" comes back positive, the athlete is not charged with a positive test until they have a chance to meet with their accuser (USOC) in an arbitration hearing.

If the athlete fails to win the arbitration hearing, then and only then, is the test truly a positive test and put in the book.

This may not be the end of the road though as an athlete can appeal to the international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the positive if they have evidence they believe can clear their name.

In the same way, if the athlete wins the arbitration, the USOC can appeal to the CAS as well.

[Jason Marsteller, Swimming World] Thanks for taking the time to help educate us on the process of drug testing from an athlete's perspective, Trent. We appreciate it.

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