Latest UKAD testing numbers for 2020 show return to ‘near normal’ levels
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has today released the testing numbers October - December 2020 (Quarter 3 2020-21).
You can read the full report here and below.
The report, which UKAD publishes quarterly, shows that more than 1,900 (1,926) tests were completed in the last three months of 2020. This is compared to 1,406 tests in the previous three months and shows a continued increase in the programme as competitive sport returns and lockdown restrictions lifted.
UKAD’s testing programme continues to be impacted by the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this report shows that UKAD completed 75% of the tests compared to the year before (2,578 tests Q3 2019-20).
UKAD’s Deputy Director of Operations (Testing), Hamish Coffey said, “The story behind these latest statistics is of a testing programme which has nearly returned to normal numbers, despite the most challenging times we have ever seen in anti-doping.
“These figures show the months leading up to Christmas when sport continued to return, some lockdown restrictions were being lifted, and UKAD’s amended COVID-19 testing processes were fully embedded.
“Since the new year, the most recent lockdown has presented further challenges. But UKAD has continued to innovate and adapt our testing processes. This has included the introduction of a mobile testing van and remote urine sample collection, allowing us to maintain a robust testing programme to protect the integrity of sport.”
Since sport has slowly returned to the UK, UKAD continues to work closely with medical experts in the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) Sport Working Group, to ensure new testing processes comply with the highest standards of safety and sport-specific considerations considering the ongoing risks around COVID-19.
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