The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Testing Agency (ITA) recently released concurrent press briefings about advances related to doping control. WADA spoke about the impact of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), pointing to a string of recent anti-doping wins where long-term biological tracking proved decisive in catching cheats. The ITA shared information about new transport methods for samples to accredited labs.
Along with the ABP updates, WADA rolled out refined laboratory standards.
The passport delivers
Monday’s briefing focused heavily on the ABP’s capacity to reveal longitudinal red flags. By tracking blood and urine markers over extended periods, the passport picks up subtle, unnatural fluctuations—guiding targeted out-of-competition testing and, increasingly, uncovering sample manipulation.
“WADA is pleased to highlight the role the ABP has played in several recent successes, particularly in detecting steroid doping, uncovering sample manipulation, and identifying anomalies in blood samples,” said WADA President Witold Bańka. “Ultimately, the majority of sanctions are based on analytical data as evidence, underscoring the importance of refining analytical methods to strengthen the anti-doping system.”
Bańka reiterated that securing deeper funding for scientific research remains a priority to keep sharpening the ABP’s teeth. In 2023, the agency added two key upgrades: blood steroid markers for better steroid detection and an Endocrine Module targeting human growth hormone (hGH) and related peptide variants.
For athletes sitting around in doping control, there is practical news: WADA has cut the mandatory rest period following exercise (training or racing) before a blood sample can be drawn for the Hematological Module from two hours down to 60 minutes. The shift cuts wait times in half without compromising analytical integrity.
Drones in the interior: ITA tests long-range sample transport
Transporting fresh, delicate biological samples to accredited labs across vast geography remains one of anti-doping’s biggest logistical headaches. To address it, the ITA conducted a 1000-kilometre test flight across Alaska to evaluate autonomous aerial transport.
Partnering with the Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and diagnostics firm Sysmex, the ITA deployed a heavy-lift autonomous aircraft built by Windracers. On Aug. 19, the drone flew for several hours out of Nenana Municipal Airport in the Alaskan interior.
To test sample degradation, both airborne samples and control samples were tested at a temporary satellite lab set up inside a Nenana hangar. The pop-up lab was run directly by the head of Dresden’s WADA-accredited facility to ensure strict protocol adherence. The ITA intends to submit the trial’s results to a peer-reviewed scientific journal for independent validation.
Revised laboratory technical documents set for 2027
WADA also published seven updated technical documents tied to the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL). Approved by the Executive Committee on Sept. 10, the revisions officially take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
The updated guidelines address analysis protocols for human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), luteinizing hormone (LH), erythropoietin (EPO), hGH isoforms, gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS), as well as laboratory chain-of-custody protocols and the ABP’s Endocrine and Hematological Modules.
