Time will tell – Exploring application, opportunities, and challenges of sample retention and further analysis in anti-doping

Lanfer, Julian; Westmattelmann, Daniel; Stoffers, Benedikt; Petróczi, Andrea

Abstract

Within anti-doping testing as the central mechanism of anti-dopingwork, anti-doping policy allows for sample retention and furtheranalysis (SFA) for up to ten years, aiming to increase the long-termeffectiveness of anti-doping testing. SFA is perceived as a highlyeffective anti-doping measure by athletes, but research on actualeffective SFA application in anti-doping testing is limited. In thisstudy, we examined the application, decision drivers, opportunities,and challenges of SFA application in anti-doping testing. Throughcontent analysis of thirteen in-depth interviews with executives andanti-doping testing experts from National and Regional Anti-Doping Organisations, the results revealed significant variability inimplementing SFA practices with diverse decision drivers for sam-ple retention and further analysis of retained samples. Furthermore,we identified key procedural, analytical, and regulatory challenges,such as budget constraints, knowledge gaps, and the mandatoryinitial analysis of all collected samples, contributing to the hetero-geneity in SFA application. Our findings suggest that permittingdelayed sample analysis after storing a collected sample withoutmandatory initial analysis could enhance detection reliability andthe long-term deterrent effect, which are the dual objectives ofanti-doping testing. However, delayed analysis emphasises theneed for revised standards for results management and more com-prehensive athlete protection measures to safeguard their proce-dural rights. Regulatory adjustments, along with further empiricalinvestigation into SFA, to optimise its application are warranted.