The trouble with Ostarine: Jimmy Wallhead’s
16th March 2018
Features

Athletes who lie to doping control personnel about having symptoms of Covid-19 could face a charge of tampering with the doping control process, which carries a four year ban. Guidance issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to anti-doping organisations (ADOs) on 6 May (PDF below) outlines that when conducting a testing mission, sample collection personnel should ask an athlete if they, or anyone that lives with them, are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.
If they answer “Yes”, confirmation must be sought in writing via a Covid-19 Questionnaire. The athlete must be warned ‘that if they purposefully provide any information which is inaccurate or incorrect, it could be construed as an anti-doping rule violation (e.g., tampering or attempted tampering) and they may be subject to a sanction of up to four years’.
WADA has also published an updated Question and Answer document for athletes regarding anti-doping during the Covid-19 pandemic. The document advises that athletes who have symptoms of Covid-19 should ‘advise your ADO [Anti-Doping Organisation] of your situation with your whereabouts submission or when sample collection personnel notify you for testing so that they can adjust their plans accordingly’.
Twenty three athletes from ten countries, competing in ten sports, were involved in anti-doping proceedings...
Ninety two athletes from 13 countries, competing in 22 sports, were involved in anti-doping proceedings...
A total of 43 athletes from eleven countries, competing in 17 sports, were involved in...