IAAF sign agreement with UKAD

The Athlete Biological Passport is a programme based on the monitoring of selected biological variables which can reveal the effects of doping. Athletes on the system are profiled over time and should show consistent levels of the variables. Any changes to the levels could suggest doping and will result in further investigation and target testing. As the UK’s National Anti-Doping Organisation, UK Anti-Doping uses this information to monitor the levels in an athlete’s profile. The agreement signed with the IAAF will allow both organisations to share this information and build their combined target testing capabilities. IAAF President Lamine Diack said: “Today’s announcement of a data sharing agreement between the IAAF and the UK Anti-Doping Agency reinforces the model of an intelligent and efficient anti-doping programme to which the IAAF is committed. “This most welcome initiative follows in the path of the historic Anti-Doping programme in the context of the Athlete’s Biological Passport which the IAAF implemented at our World Championships in Daegu last summer. “It is another step in our long term cooperation with the UK authorities in the fight against doping in Athletics, which becomes even more relevant in the perspective of the forthcoming Olympic Games in London. We remain unequivocal in our resolve to eradicate doping and defend the credibility of our sport.” UK Anti-Doping Chief Executive Andy Parkinson added: “This latest agreement further strengthens our information gathering capabilities. “Establishing global partnerships is vital to our ability to tackle doping in sport, particularly with so many international athletes coming to the UK over the coming months to train and compete in advance of next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have increased the number of our personnel so we can meet the need to test them while they are here, in and out of competition.”