07 Jan 2009
January 1st saw the new changes to the International Standards for Testing (IST) come into force for athletes in the UK. This has meant significant changes to many athletes, with a far more stringent set of procedures to adhere to with regards to completeing whereabouts information, and what an athlete can and cannot do during their alotted hour for testing.
Athletes who are part of their sports registered testing pool now have to complete whereabouts for one hour a day, 7 days a week, rather than the 5 days previously. The other major change is that whereas previously the tester had be at the specified location for the whole hour to ensure they could test the athlete, now the athlete has to be present for the whole hour. These changes will obviously have a big impact on the athletes subject to whereabouts, and the BAC would like all athletes affected to give feedback on their experiences with the new system.
The BAC will be collating all this information and intends to lobby WADA along with other player representative organisations to change the aspects of the IST which are unreasonable, which negatively impact on the athletes ability to train and compete, and do not directly help in the fight against doping in sport.
If any athletes are unsure of their responsibilities with regards to completing whereabouts, they should visit the Drug Free Sport website at www.100percentme.co.uk for more information.
Anyone who wishes to contact the BAC with any problems they are experiencing, or who would like independent advice should use the form here
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