{"id":396292,"date":"2019-10-03T12:39:03","date_gmt":"2019-10-03T19:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=396292"},"modified":"2019-10-03T12:39:03","modified_gmt":"2019-10-03T19:39:03","slug":"dried-blood-spot-dbs-testing-may-be-in-wada-weaponry-by-tokyo-2020-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/dried-blood-spot-dbs-testing-may-be-in-wada-weaponry-by-tokyo-2020-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"Dried-Blood-Spot (DBS) Testing May Be In WADA Weaponry By Tokyo 2020 Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dried-blood-spot (DBS) testing closer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dried-blood-spot (DBS) testing<\/strong>, which has shown promising signs of becoming a new weapon in the armoury of anti-doping authorities and those advocating clean sport, may be used as soon as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The World Anti-Doping Agency<\/a> (WADA)<\/strong>\u00a0announced today that it has signed memoranda of understanding with seven Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) “regarding the development and implementation of dried-blood-spot (DBS) testing<\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

“The Agency is collaborating with ADOs around the world to further research the development and implementation of this exciting method for drug testing in sport,” said WADA in a statement that noted “DBS testing could potentially be implemented for the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan”.<\/p>\n

The anti-doping agency also announced the suspension of the Athens laboratory for up to six months “due to non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL)<\/strong> as identified during a WADA site visit, including in relation to the lack of institutional support and investment for the laboratory.”<\/p>\n

On the DBS development, WADA – which last week gave Russia a three-week deadline to comply with demands or face renewed whole-nation international suspension<\/a> – met the International Olympic Committee (IOC)<\/strong>, the International Testing Agency (ITA)<\/strong> and a number of National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs)<\/strong> in March this year to set up a steering committee to “oversee the progress of this project with an objective of developing DBS testing for routine implementation in time for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, China”. Aspects of DBS testing might be ready in time for use at Tokyo 2020.<\/p>\n

Dr. Olivier Rabin, WADA Senior Executive Director<\/strong>, Sciences and International Partnerships, said: \u201cThe possible advantages of DBS are clear. It has the potential to add to the current global anti-doping program by complementing existing urine and blood testing to expand upon the program\u2019s testing coverage and capacity to better reveal doping practices. WADA is committed to making available new ways of protecting clean sport that reduce the inconvenience or discomfort for athletes and is easier, more effective and cheaper to carry out. In that way, it could be that DBS will be a major breakthrough in global anti-doping testing capacity.” He added:<\/p>\n

“There is a real sense among project participants that DBS could be a game-changer for the anti-doping community. It is very encouraging how we are all working together on this project, optimizing time and resources, to validate this new element within the overall anti-doping toolbox. WADA is pleased to be able to lead this collective work and make its resources available to serve the team involved in this project.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

WADA listed the following “potential advantages” of DBS:<\/p>\n