Dopingscontrole

Dopingscontrole, or doping control in sports, refers to the procedures used to detect and deter the use of prohibited substances or methods that could enhance performance. The aim is to safeguard fair competition and athlete health, and controls are applied at national and international levels, including major events such as the Olympic Games.

The process typically involves in-competition and out-of-competition testing conducted by national anti-doping organizations (NADOs) in coordination with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Athletes may be selected randomly or targeted. Collected samples, usually urine and sometimes blood, are sealed and transported to WADA-accredited laboratories, with a strict chain of custody to prevent tampering. Samples are analyzed for substances and methods listed as prohibited, and laboratories may also use the Athlete Biological Passport to monitor biological markers over time. Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) may permit the medically justified use of otherwise prohibited substances.

The prohibited list, maintained and updated annually by WADA, covers categories such as anabolic agents, peptide hormones and growth factors, synthetic hormones, masking agents, stimulants, narcotics, cannabinoids, diuretics, and prohibited methods including blood doping and gene doping. In addition to direct detection, the passport program seeks abnormalities in biological data that indicate doping.

If a test is positive or an adverse analytical finding is obtained, provisional suspensions and formal disciplinary procedures may follow. Sanctions can range from suspensions to multi-year bans or lifetime prohibitions, with possible appeals and rights to due process. Doping controls are governed by the World Anti-Doping Code and implemented by NADOs, laboratories, and sport organizations, balancing integrity, health, and individual rights. Challenges remain, including privacy considerations, evolving evasion tactics, and the need for ongoing education and testing innovation.