UKAD Statement regarding the reanalysis of athlete samples and WADA

UKAD Statement regarding the reanalysis of athlete samples and WADA:

UKAD has not refused any request from WADA. To clarify, at this moment in time we have not received any request from WADA for reanalysis of samples we hold for any sportsperson. On the specific subject of the Nike Oregon Project, in November 2019 we proactively offered to assist WADA in their endeavours and to date we have received no such request for any assistance. We have been clear that we are happy to assist any anti-doping organisation including WADA. 

Some of the samples we collect are kept on a long-term basis in a storage facility, in order for us to reanalyse those samples at a future time. We are here to protect sport and protect clean athletes and cannot publicly discuss our strategy regarding the reanalysis of those samples. Confidentiality and personal data of athletes is centrally important, and we will not comment on individuals. We are not aware of any national anti-doping organisation that keeps all samples at all times. 

We want to reassure athletes that our active ongoing reanalysis programme takes many factors into account including keeping samples from the most high-profile sports and the most high-profile athletes, and reanalysing them when new scientific developments take place, or analysis sensitivity improves, or if intelligence such as new information comes to light. 

We want to assure athletes and the general public that catching cheats and keeping sport clean is at the heart of what we do, and we have a wide number of robust programmes including testing, investigations and education to protect sport. We comply with the World Anti-Doping Code, the international standards and the UK National Anti-Doping Policy and we do take action when evidence of wrongdoing comes to light.