Athlete Questions and Answers: UKAD and COVID-19

On March 17, UKAD announced a reduction in the testing programme, however athletes could still be tested, any time, any place. While this is an extraordinarily difficult and uncertain time, we believe some testing should remain in place.

UKAD has developed specific guidelines for this period to protect all those involved in or exposed to the sample collection process. These guidelines are constantly under review and updated in line with government advice. They include:

• DCP wearing personal protective equipment (where available)
• Maintaining a two-metre distance between the athlete and the DCP
• Washing hands (and encouraging the athlete to wash hands) regularly throughout the sample collection process
• Disinfecting work surfaces at appropriate times throughout the sample collection process

Any UKAD DCP conducting testing during this period will be selected in line with UK Government advice. UKAD is recording and monitoring, on an ongoing basis, DCP travel history and any occurrences of self-isolation and illness. UKAD will not use any DCP who, based on this information, would pose a health risk to the athlete. DCP assigned to conduct a test will carry a Letter of Authority from UKAD specific to the timeframe of the testing.

Athletes will be asked to wash their hands (or use hand sanitiser) at various stages of the Doping Control process. When athletes are ready to provide their sample, they will be required to wash their hands with water only OR wear gloves.

The use of soap or hand sanitiser would not be permitted at this stage in order to avoid contamination of the sample. This is the normal procedure as set out in the International Standards for Testing and Investigations and will still be followed. At all other times of the process athletes will be able wash their hands with soap (or use hand sanitiser).

Once the process is complete regular handwashing with soap is encouraged.

UKAD’s testing programme has been reduced to ensure that the wellbeing and health of athletes and DCP is protected during these challenging times. Like many other organisations UKAD has implemented its business continuity plans to ensure its operations continue throughout this crisis. This includes:

• Delivering education and information programmes
• Processing TUE applications (see further TUE advice below)
• Receiving and analysing intelligence and conducting investigations
• Results management to determine anti-doping rule violations
• Long term sample storage, samples can be retested in the future
• Ongoing analysis of athlete whereabouts information

All are key components of UKAD’s mission to protect clean sport.

All Clean Sport education will now be delivered online through webinars. Until further notice we will not be delivering any face-to-face education. We continue to provide as much support to athletes and Athlete Support Personnel as possible and are adapting our education to meet the needs of this unique situation.

Yes, hearings before the National Anti-Doping Panel are still taking place and will do so remotely.

WADA accredited laboratories around the world are still operational therefore they will continue to analyse any samples collected or samples in long-term storage.

The COVID-19 pandemic is global, impacting many countries and their anti-doping programmes. However, testing programmes are continuing around the world, and therefore you could be tested abroad. The test would be completed either by the local National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO), by your International Federation, or at the request of UKAD. Where UKAD has requested the test, we will liaise closely with the local NADO conducting the sample collection on our behalf to ensure that all necessary precautionary measures are being implemented.

If you are tested abroad and you have any concerns with the sample collection process then you should complete the test, record your observations on the Doping Control Form in the ‘Athlete’s Comments’ section and should notify UKAD and your National Governing Body upon completion of the test.

If a UKAD DCP arrives to test an athlete during this period, they will ask the athlete if they, or anyone they are living with (if testing at a home address) is self-isolating or in a high-risk group (for example, the elderly, pregnant). In such instances:

• the DCP will ask a series of questions in relation to the self-isolating process/high risk individual. You should ensure that you respond to these questions as completely and accurately as possible. The DCP will make a full record of your answers and will share a copy of this with you
• the decision to proceed with the test will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis; a self-isolating athlete does not automatically have the right to refuse to provide a sample. We remind athletes that refusing to provide a sample can result in a four-year ban from sport. All relevant information must be provided to DCP upon request. Having received all information, where it is decided not to proceed with the test, the DCP will send the report to UKAD and if UKAD requires any further evidence then it will follow-up with the athlete directly

UKAD emphasises that if an athlete or Athlete Support Person provides any information which is false, they may be committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV).

If an athlete is charged with that ADRV they face a ban of up to four years for a first offence.

UKAD is liaising with National Governing Bodies to proactively identify athletes who are self-isolating. This will help UKAD to factor this information in to any upcoming test plans.

Yes. During this period, an athlete’s anti-doping responsibilities remain unchanged. If you are an athlete providing whereabouts to UKAD, then you must continue to do so.

We understand that for many athletes your ‘regular activities’, such as training are either severely disrupted or have ceased. Your whereabouts should reflect, to the best of your knowledge, your whereabouts. Therefore, if your ‘regular activities’ have stopped then you would not need to record these in your whereabouts. Once you recommence your ‘regular activities’, you should update your whereabouts accordingly.

If you can maintain regular activities during this period, you should record this information as normal in your whereabouts.

We also request that if you are self-isolating or live with an individual from a high-risk group (e.g. the elderly, pregnant), please enter this information into your whereabouts so that UKAD is aware.

Yes. Athletes remain responsible for ensuring they have a valid TUE (where applicable).

We are no longer able to receive applications by post and therefore require all applications to be submitted via email to tue@ukad.org.uk.

Athletes should contact tue@ukad.org.uk if they experience any difficulty in accessing the necessary medical evidence to support their TUE application at this current time.

Yes. The UKAD Intelligence & Investigations team are working. We continue to receive, assess and disseminate intelligence and act on it where necessary.

As always, the team is easily contactable via telephone (08000 32 23 32) and online: www.protectyoursport.co.uk 

If anyone has information that could be of interest to UKAD and its investigations on any matter, please do contact us as usual.