Lead Doping Control Officer notifies swimmer Fran Williamson for doping control.
Doping Control Personnel have a fundamental role in the promotion of doping-free sport both nationally and internationally.
Doping Control Personnel are authorised by UK Anti-Doping to conduct testing in the UK. A pool of approximately 200 Doping Control Officers (DCOs) and Chaperones are trained to comply with the International Standards for Testing (IST). DCOs in the UK are trained to notify and chaperone athletes, observe sample collection and process samples. UK Anti-Doping also has a team of trained chaperones authorised by the organisation to assist the DCOs in notifying and chaperoning athletes until they report to the doping control station. Chaperones in the UK do not witness sample provision.
UK Anti-Doping also has a team of Blood Collection Officers (BCOs) who are all trained phlebotomists with experience in venipuncture and who collect samples for blood testing.
Doping Control Personnel are from a variety of backgrounds to provide a flexible and efficient service in the collection of blood and urine from athletes.
The doping control scheme has been in existence in the UK since 1990, when Doping Control Personnel conducted tests, firstly on behalf of National Governing Bodies (NGBs), and then under the GB Sports Council prior to UK Sport being formed in 1996. In 2010, UK Anti-Doping formed as the UK's first independent National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) and manages Doping Control Personnel as part of the organisation's operations.
All Doping Control Personnel are trained in accordance with the WADA International Standard for Testing and the UK Doping Control Handbook. Doping Control Officers, Blood Collection Officers and Chaperones are all required to undergo continual assessment. New trainees go through a rigorous equality recruitment process and are required to submit a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced disclosure.
Doping Control Personnel have conducted testing at numerous major events, some of which include:
- European Show Jumping and Dressage Championships (Windsor, 2009)
- Artistic Gymnastics World Championships (London, 2009)
- Rugby Women’s World Cup (Twickenham, 2010)
- World Duathlon Championships (Edinburgh, 2010)
- Triathlon World Championship Series (London, 2011)
- London Marathon (London, 2011)
- World Darts Championships (London, 2011)
- IPC Paralympic World Cup (Manchester 2011)
- World Short Track Speed Skating Championships (Sheffield, 2011)
- Badminton World Championships (London, 2011)
- Commonwealth Youth Games (Isle of Man, 2011)
- European Fencing Championships (Sheffield, 2011)
- Boccia World Cup (Isle of Man, 2011)
- World Rowing Junior Championships (Dorney Lake, 2011).
