ATR Extra - Keeping the Samples Safe

In the fight against doping, there's a new tool to help thwart cheats and prevent a repeat of the Sochi 2014 tampering scandal.

The validity of testing kits was questioned in the fallout of Sochi 2014. Russia tampered with testing bottles, switching urine samples of athletes taken at the Games with clean ones taken from the same athlete before the Games.

After the scandal, the IOC opted for new testing measures.

The code is designed to help worldwide doping organizations to "plan for effective testing and to maintain the integrity and identity of samples, from notifying the athlete to transporting the sample for analysis".

The sample testing kit will have a tamper resistant sealing system. This feature is to ensure when transported to the laboratory, the sample is legitimate and not been compromised.

Versapak Doping Control Ltd, recently unveiled what it says is the first urine transport kit used for doping in sport.

Versapak has worked closely with the World Anti-Doping Agency and National Anti-Doping organizations such as UK Anti-Doping to research and develop the testing equipment.

Guidelines include a unique serial system developed into all A and B sample containers, in order to meet the requirements of the Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS). The new process for testing will ensure athletes remain anonymous.

In 2019 Versapak worked with the federations in order to develop new guidelines, such as removing its glass sample bottle and introducing plastic to meet WADA’s thermal requirements; a built-in security ID feature; and having sample kits tested by an independent institution.

Written by Greer Wilson

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