Some athletes failed to report for blood doping tests at this year’s Olympics but escaped sanction, an independent report into doping procedures at the London Games has revealed
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The Independent Observer (IO) report, compiled by a nine-strong team and published by world anti-doping agency WADA, said several missed appointments had occurred but blamed confusion over tests relating to the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).
The ABP programme, making its first appearance at a summer Games, was designed to allow testers to compare blood tests with an athletes’ existing blood profile, thereby helping identify unusual patterns or anomalies.
However, its introduction proved problematic. “The process by which athletes were notified of their selection for such tests can be improved, however,” the report said.
“Given that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) deferred to the relevant International Federations (IFs) the responsibility to notify athletes of these tests, athletes were obliged to report for testing at a particular time and place.”
