Programme allows athletes to collect blood and urine samples while being monitored on Zoom or FaceTime
The US Anti-Doping Agency has come up with a novel random testing programme to cope with the unique circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic.
With the United States, like much of the world, under lockdown as authorities try to slow the spread of the virus, USADA has launched a programme in which athletes collect blood and urine samples from themselves at home, while being monitored remotely on Zoom or FaceTime by testing personnel.
The test kits were sent to athletes, who must produce samples when they receive an unannounced call from a doping control officer.
The officer watches the blood sample being taken, but urine samples are provided in private.But they first shown the bathroom then collect it with a fix time they should need, then provide the temperature of the sample has to submit in video conference.
The samples are sealed under the eye of the doping control officer and sent to an accredited lab for testing.
USADA chief executive Travis Tygart told the New York Times that plenty of top US Olympic hopes were eager to sign up for the pilot project.
Freestyle swimming great Katie Ledecky and athletes Noah Lyles and Allyson Felix were among those who volunteered.
"We've been talking about this and laying the foundation for several months," Tygart told the newspaper.
"COVID put that on fast forward and allowed us to roll it out.
As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rage on, its impact on all things related to daily life, including elite sport, is ever-developing.
Against this backdrop, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has unveiled the world’s first-ever virtual drug-testing program called ‘Project Believe 2020’ with swimmers Ryan Murphy, Katie Ledecky and Lilly King signed on as initial participants. The pilot program in place right now is expected to last 8 weeks.
Tygart says that, due to privacy concerns with the internet involved, athletes are required to show USADA personnel the inside of the bathroom through their phone or laptop, then set the device right outside the door during the collection process. For blood collection, the entire process must be shown on video.
As for Ledecky, the dominant freestyler said, “I felt very comfortable with the whole process. This is the perfect time to test something like this. I think it’s great for the circumstances we’re all in right now.”
She also conveyed an important message her participation in this program sends.
“I want the people that I’m competing against to know that I’m clean and to feel confident competing against me,” she said. “I want them to know that I have this commitment to clean sport, and I hope they all do too.”
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