New anti-doping procedures put athlete safety first as sport resumes in the UK

Safety and welfare of athletes at heart of changes to testing process

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is announcing today changes to its testing processes that will be in place as sport emerges from lockdown. 

UKAD Director of Operations, Pat Myhill said: “The safety of athletes and the testers is at the heart of the changes we have introduced.

“The public must have confidence in clean sport, and our responsibility is to ensure that when sport returns, it not only does so with integrity but that the safety and welfare of those involved is in no way compromised.”

The changes to the testing procedures follow an extensive risk assessment by UKAD. Full guidance can be found here. 

The key principles of the changes are:

• Two metre distancing at all times during the testing (sample collection) process
• Face masks and gloves worn by UKAD testers at all times and encouraged for athletes and representatives
• Hand washing and/or disinfecting before, during and after the testing process

Myhill continued: “I want to reassure athletes that these processes have been designed with your safety in mind. UKAD has created the process in line with the most up to date World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines and they have also been drawn up in consultation with the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Sport Working Group. 

“We have worked hard to engage sport in these changes and are confident of their support of this revised approach. These new procedures are subject to constant review and will be amended to reflect changes to government guidance.

“Our message to the athlete community is please follow the guidance, continue to do your part to protect clean sport, and check the UKAD website for more information.”