Shedding More Light on Tobi vs AIU’s Test Violation Allegation.
There are two types of tests Athletes are required to carry out by the Athletics Integrity Unit: in-competition tests and out-of-competition tests. An athlete can be summoned to testing at any time and anywhere, either in their home country or abroad. The invitation is presented to the athlete personally.
1. In-competition tests
In-competition tests refer to doping tests performed in connection with a competition event. Unless stipulated otherwise by an international or otherwise concerned anti-doping organisation, the period of time begins on 11:59 p.m. on the night before the competition the athlete is participating in and ends after the competition and the related sample collection process have been completed.
All known doping agents and methods and any tampering of the sample are examined from samples collected in connection with competitions.
2. Out-of-competition tests
Out-of-competition samples are tested for anabolic agents, peptide hormones, growth factors and similar compounds, β2-agonists, hormone and metabolic modulators, diuretics and other masking agents as well as all prohibited methods.
International sports federations may have rules of their own regarding the substances to be tested. It is the athletes’ responsibility to be aware of the relevant rules.
✳️ Athletes Selection for Testing
Athletes are chosen for out-of-competition doping tests in a targeted manner or by drawing the athletes to be tested during the training of a certain group or from a group athletes on a camp.
Target doping tests are primarily performed on athletes in a testing pool and national team athletes.
✳️Sample Types
Doping tests are performed by analysing a urine or blood sample or both. The majority of doping tests are performed by analysing urine samples for the presence of prohibited substances or methods. A blood test does not replace a urine test, because it is primarily used to detect different substances and methods.
Blood samples may be taken for the purpose of screening, identifying prohibited substances and methods or as a part of long-term monitoring in order to create an athlete’s personal profile.
Blood tests are performed, for example, in order to detect the presence of growth hormone and the use of various artificial substances and methods related to the manipulation of blood.
✳️Athlete Biological Passport
In the Athlete Biological Passport system, certain biological metrics of an athlete are monitored throughout their sports career. Changes in the athlete’s profile may indicate the use of doping.
The purpose of the Athlete Biological Passport system is to monitor certain biological metrics over a long period of time. For example, the Haematological Module of an athlete includes information on their haematocrit and haemoglobin levels, whereas their Steroidal Module includes information on their testosterone and epitestosterone levels. The results are used to create a profile that defines the personal reference values of the athlete instead of the previously used population-based values.
The Athlete Biological Passport system can be used as a tool for targeting and scheduling testing. It can also be used to indicate indirectly any use of doping agents or methods, i.e. an anti-doping rule violation as specified in the Anti-Doping Code.
✴️Me: I have read through Tobi’s post to know she is well on course to defend herself and come out clean on this. I just hope the people who have gone to town with this allegation will have the same energy to celebrate her victory at the AIU Tribunal after she is cleared.
©Ifeoluwa Leo
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