Athletes should feel prepared and know their rights and responsibilities when they are notified to be tested by a chaperone or doping control officer. Check out the video below on the testing process from start to finish.
You can find out more in the Introduction to Testing section of UKAD’s website. UK Anti-Doping provides comprehensive information concerning the testing procedure which can be found here.
Who can be tested?
Any UK athlete subject to the anti-doping rules of their sport and non-UK athlete staying, training, residing, entering a competition, or named as a member of a team participating in a competition at any level within the UK is eligible for testing as part of UKAD’s national anti-doping programme. Any athlete eligible for testing can be tested anytime, anywhere.
Where and when can I be tested?
UK Anti-Doping carries out both ‘In-Competition Testing’ and ‘Out-of-Competition Testing’. Any boxers at any level may be asked to submit a sample in- or out-of-competition.
In-Competition can be defined as, “The period commencing at 11:59 pm on the day before a competition in which the athlete is scheduled to compete through to the end of such competition and the Sample collection process related to such competition.”
Out-of-Competition testing refers to any other time, outside of the in-competition period. While this does include any location suitable for testing, the locations used are typically your home or your training venue.
Boxer’s Rights
Throughout the doping control process, boxers have rights and responsibilities. Boxers have the right to;
- request to see doping control personnel identification
- be accompanied by a representative
- request a delay to doping control
- be observed while providing a sample by a doping control personnel of the same gender
- hear additional information regarding the sample collection progress
- receive a copy of the doping control form
- confidentiality
- request modifications
- It is very important that Boxers familiarise themselves with their rights before they are tested, as this will ease the testing process, reducing the risk of any mishaps.
Boxers may also wish to refer to WADA’s Athlete’s Anti-Doping Rights Act.
Boxer Responsibilities
- always remain within direct observation of the Doping Control Personnel from the point of notification until the completion of the sample collection procedure
- produce identification passport or a driver’s licence
- comply with sample collection procedures
- report immediately for a test, unless there are valid reasons for a delay
- disclose the identity of any Athlete Support Person upon request from an anti-doping organisation
Do not refuse a test. This could result in an ADRV and a ban from sport. Follow instructions provided by Doping Control Personnel and report any concerns on the Doping Control Form.
Further information can be found here.