The aim of testing is to protect clean athletes through the detection and deterrence of doping.

Any athlete under the testing jurisdiction of IFBB may be tested at any time, with no advance notice, in- or out-of-competition, and be required to provide a urine, blood sample or blood for a Dried Blood Spot (DBS) analysis.

Authority to test

All athletes affiliated with a National Federation of Bodybuilding affiliated to IFBB shall be subject to In-Competition testing by IFBB or any other Anti-Doping Organization responsible for testing at a competition or event in which they participate.

The IFBB can request that a National Anti-Doping Organization, a Regional Anti-Doping Organization, or a private Service Provider to act as a Sample Collection Authority and conduct testing on its behalf. The Sample Collection Authority then assigns certified Sample Collection Personnel to conduct the testing.

Responsibility for IFBB testing

The IFBB is responsible for overseeing all testing conducted by IFBB. Tests will only be conducted by qualified Doping Control Officers who have been authorized by the IFBB.

Selection of athletes to be tested

At International events, the IFBB Anti-Doping Commission shall determine the number of tests to be performed. Athletes can be selected by random selection, by placing or through target test.

Sample Collection Process

1. Athlete Selection: An athlete can be selected for testing at any time and any place.
2. Notification: A Doping Control Officer (DCO) or chaperone will notify the athlete of their selection and outline their rights and responsibilities.
3. Reporting to the Doping Control Station: The athlete should report to the doping control station immediately after being notified. The DCO may allow a delay in reporting for a valid reason.
4. Sample Collection Equipment: The athlete is given a choice of individually sealed sample collection vessels and kits to choose from.
5. They must inspect the equipment and verify the sample code numbers.
6. Collecting the sample:

• • For a urine sample:
    • Providing the sample: The athlete will be asked to provide the sample under the direct observation of a DCO or witnessing chaperone of the same gender.
    • Volume: A minimum 90mL is required for urine samples. If the first sample is not 90mL, the athlete may be asked to wait and provide an additional sample.
    • Splitting the sample: The athlete will split their sample into A and B bottles.
    • Sealing the samples: The athlete will seal the A and B bottles in accordance with the DCO’s instructions.
    • Measuring specific gravity: The DCO will measure the specific gravity of the sample to ensure it is not too dilute to analyze. If it is too dilute, the athlete may be asked to provide additional samples.

• • For a blood sample:
    • The athlete will be asked to remain seated and relaxed for at least 10 minutes before undergoing venipuncture (only for the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) blood samples).
    • The Blood Collection Officer (BCO) will ask for the athlete’s non-dominant arm, apply a tourniquet to the upper arm, and clean the skin at the puncture site.
    • The BCO will draw blood from the athlete and fill each Vacutainer blood tube with the required volume of blood.
    • The BCO will place the Vacutainer tubes into the A and B kits (only one vial may be necessary if the blood sample is collected as part of an ABP program).

7. Completing the Doping Control Form (DCF): The athlete will check and confirm that all of the information is correct, including the sample code number and their declaration of medications and/or products they have used. They will also be asked their consent for the use of the sample for research purposes. They will receive a copy of the DCF and should keep it.
8. Laboratory Process: All samples are sent to WADA accredited laboratories for analysis.

If you are selected for testing, you can learn how is the procedure by downloading the IFBB Pocket Guide for Doping Control . You can also watch WADA’s video guide: WADA Doping Control video

WHEN CAN THE ATHLETE BE TESTED?

Testing can take place anytime/anywhere, and either in-competition or out-of-competition.

WHERE DOES THE ATHLETE’S SAMPLE GO?

All urine and/or blood samples are shipped and analyzed at World Anti-Doping Agency Accredited Laboratories (WADA accredited Laboratories), as required under the World Anti-Doping Code.

REGISTERED TESTING POOL (RTP)

Registered Testing Pool is the pool of highest-priority athletes established at the international level by IFBB and at the national level by National Anti-Doping Organizations, who are subject to focused in-competition and out-of-competition testing.

The IFBB maintains a Registered Testing Pool of those athletes who are required to provide up-to-date whereabouts information. Each athlete in the RTP must file reports to the IFBB specifying on a daily basis where and when he or she will be. This has to be done through the WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS).

WHAT DO REGISTERED TESTING POOL ATHLETES NEED TO KNOW?

For full Information about the ADAMS system, please consult:

• ADAMS login page
• WADA’s webpage on ADAMS

WHO IS INCLUDED?

Very few athletes are in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP), according to the chart below, and need to provide accurate and current whereabouts information. International Federations and National Anti-Doping Organizations are responsible for determining if the athlete is required to provide whereabouts information or not.

REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR ATHLETES INCLUDED IN A REGISTERED POOL TESTING:

• Home address;
• Training information and locations;
• Competition schedules;
• Regular personal activities such as work or school.

For those athletes included in a RTP, one 60-minute time period a day, where they will be available for testing, must also be provided. Remembering that all athletes can still be tested anytime and anywhere. However, for RTP athletes, a missed test may be recorded if the athlete is unavailable during the declared 60-minute window.

ADAMS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

The Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS) is a Web-based database management system that simplifies the daily activities of all stakeholders and athletes involved in the anti-doping system.

ADAMS is easy to use, it is also free for WADA’s stakeholders allowing them to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the fight against doping in sport. ADAMS’ multi-level access system protects the security and confidentiality of data. It facilitates the sharing of information amongst relevant organizations and promotes efficiency, transparency and effectiveness in all anti-doping activities.

IFBB encourages the use of WADA’s ADAMS system of athlete’s whereabouts administration. It remains the responsibility of the athlete to provide accurate whereabouts information.

ATHLETE BIOLOGICAL PASSPORT

The biological passport is the program and methods of gathering and collecting data as described in the International Standard for Testing and Investigations and International Standard for Laboratories.

Athlete biological passport is an anti-doping technique introduced by WADA which consists in tracking the athlete’s blood parameters over time. The athlete incurs disqualification for doping in the event that abnormal and unjustified trends of these parameters are detected with respect to the typical profile of the athlete.

Those information, including whereabouts shall be maintained in strict confidence at all times; shall be used exclusively for purposes of planning, coordinating or conducting Doping Control, providing information relevant to the Athlete Biological Passport or other analytical results, to support an investigation into a potential anti-doping rule violation, or to support proceedings alleging an anti-doping rule violation; and shall be destroyed after it is no longer relevant for these purposes in accordance with the International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information