100 long-term storage samples given all-clear
There were no positive tests reported in the re-analysis of long-term storage samples of Australian athletes prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic games.
This year, Sport Integrity Australia selected 100 samples previously collected from potential Olympians and Paralympians for re-analysis from July 2013 to September 2016.
Our Chief Science Officer Dr Naomi Speers, says the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory, a section of the National Measurement Institute, completed their analyses and no positive results were reported.
Retesting as science advances, is a powerful means for advancing clean sport, Dr Speers says.
“It enables us to take advantage of advances in scientific knowledge and capability to detect doping which wasn’t detectable at the time a sample was collected,” she says.
The World Anti-Doping Code makes it possible to open a disciplinary proceeding within 10 years from the date an Anti-Doping Rule Violation occurred.
In addition, Sport Integrity Australia worked in partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and Paralympics Australia to deliver a comprehensive and robust pre-Games testing and education program prior to Tokyo 2020.
In the 12 months leading up to the start of the Olympic and Paralympic games, Sport Integrity Australia collected 2,541 Government-funded samples from Australian athletes in contention for the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Our pre-Games education program included the development of an online course specific to the anti-corruption and anti-doping rules in place at Tokyo 2020, face-to-face sessions, and delivery of one-on-one advice to Australian long list team members at Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia processing days.
