• Anti-doping organisations (ADOs) are free to utilise Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing from today, as the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Technical Document for DBS comes into force. WADA hopes DBS will be used in addition to existing testing methods, as it is cheaper and less invasive. Samples can be transported without temperature control. The Technical Document specifies that DBS samples should be sealed in a Tamper Evident kit for secure transport to Laboratories for analysis. DBS will be rolled out for routine use at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

• Óscar Valdez has returned a positive test for phentermine ahead of his World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight title defence against Robson Conceição on 10 September, reports ESPN. Phentermine is prohibited at all times according to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency’s (VADA) Prohibited List, however the stimulant is only prohibited in competition according to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List. VADA handles anti-doping for the WBC, which confirmed it is investigating reports of Valdez’s positive test and will hold a hearing soon.

• Varvara Lepchenko has been provisionally suspended after returning an adverse analytical finding (AAF – or ‘positive test’) for adrafinil and/or a metabolite of modafinil, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced. Adrafinil is a eugeroic (i.e. anti-fatigue agent) that metabolises into modafinil. The US player, who in 2016 was judged not to be at fault for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) involving meldonium, has not announced whether she will contest the charge.

• Two Italian athletes have been provisionally suspended after returning adverse analytical findings (AAFs – or ‘positive tests’) for prohibited substances, Italy’s anti-doping agency (NADO Italia) announced. Andrea Tassinari, who plays for Serie B basketball club Rucker Sanve San Vendemiano, returned an AAF for cannabis during an in competition test at the 3×3 Italia Finals on 8 August. Archer Giampaolo Guidi returned an AAF for nebivolol, a beta blocker, at the 53rd Felisinei Archer’s Trophy on 13 June. The in competition test was conducted by the Section for the supervision and control of doping and for the protection of health in sports activities (SVD) of Italy’s Ministry of Health.

• The Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has approved Guillermo Herrera Castaño, Colombia’s Minister of Sport and President of the Americas sports council (CADE), as a member of its Executive Committee. Castaño replaces Ernesto Lucena Barrero on the ExCo, who stood down as Colombia’s Minister of Sport and CADE President in June 2021. WADA’s Executive Committee next meets on 14 September in Istanbul.