獨(dú)立觀察員報(bào)告第三屆歐洲運(yùn)動(dòng)會(huì)克拉科夫-Ma?opolska 2023

Reportofthe

INDEPENDENTOBSERVERS

3rdEuropeanGames

Kraków-Ma?opolska2023

world

anti-doping

agency

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page2/20

Tableofcontent

1.AcronymsandAbbreviations 3

2.IntroductionandAcknowledgements 4

3.WADAIndependentObserverTeam(IOTeam) 4

4.GamesOverview 4

4.1KeyPlayersandOrganisation 5

5.Pre-GamesInitiativeswithWADAandWADAIOTeam 6

6.Pre-GamesTestingProgramandcooperationwithInternationalFederationsandNationalAnti-

DopingOrganizations 6

7.Athlete’sAnti-DopingEducation 6

8.Whereabouts 7

9.TestDistributionPlan 8

9.1RiskAssessmentandTestDistributionPlanning 8

9.2Out-of-CompetitionTesting 8

9.3In-CompetitionTesting 9

10.Long-termStorageofSamples 9

11.TherapeuticUseExemptions 9

12.Technologicaltools 10

13.SampleCollectionPersonnelandTraining 11

14.NotificationProcess 12

15.SampleCollection 13

15.1DopingControlStations 13

15.2SampleCollectionSessions 13

15.3Out-of-Competition 14

15.4In-Competition 15

15.5StorageandTransportofSamples 16

16.ResultsManagement 16

17.SummaryofIORecommendations 17

18.SampleCollectionReportandSampleAnalysis 20

18.1NumberofSamples 20

18.2NumberofSampleAnalysis 20

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page3/20

1.AcronymsandAbbreviations

Acronym/Abbreviation

FullName

ADAMS

Anti-DopingAdministrationandManagementSystem

ADCOM

Anti-DopingCommunication(CommunicationPlatformbytheITAwithexternalstakeholders)

ADRV

Anti-DopingRuleViolation

BCO

BloodCollectionOfficer

COMPASS

PaperlessTestingPlatformbytheITA

CCC

CodeComplianceCentre

CCQ

CodeComplianceQuestionnaire

DBS

DriedBloodSpot

DCC

DopingControlCoordinator

DCCC

DopingControlCoordinationCentre

DCF

DopingControlForm

DCO

DopingControlOfficer

DCS

DopingControlStation

EG

EuropeanGames

EG2023

EuropeanGames2023

EOC

EuropeanOlympicCommittee

IC

In-Competition

iDCO

internationalDopingControlOfficer

IF

InternationalFederation

IOTeam

IndependentObserverTeam

ISE

InternationalStandardforEducation

IS

InternationalStandards

ITA

InternationalTestingAgency

LOC

LocalOrganizingCommittee

LTUNADO

LithuanianAnti-dopingOrganisation

MedComAD

MedicalCommissionandAnti-Doping

MEO

MajorEventOrganizer

NADAGermany

NationalAnti-DopingAgencyofGermany

NADO

NationalAnti-DopingOrganisation

NOC

NationalOlympicCommittee

POLADA

PolishAnti-DopingAgency

RA

RiskAssessment

RMA

ResultsManagementAuthority

RTP

RegisteredTestingPool

SCA

SampleCollectionAuthority

SCP

SampleCollectionPersonnel

TA

TestingAuthority

TDP

TestDistributionPlan

TP

TestingPool

TUE

TherapeuticUseExemption

TUEC

TherapeuticUseExemptionCommittee

UA

UnsuccessfulAttempt

WADA

WorldAnti-DopingAgency

WADC

WorldAnti-DopingCode

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page4/20

2.IntroductionandAcknowledgements

TheIndependentObserver(IO)Team,appointedbytheWorldAnti-DopingAgency(WADA),upontheEuropeanOlympicCommittee’s(EOC)invitation,attendedthethirdeditionoftheEuropeanGames(EG)inKrakow,Poland,andtheregionsofMa?opolska,Polandfrom21Juneto2July2023.

TheIOTeamprogrammewasestablishedbyWADAtoenhanceathletes’andthepublic’sconfidenceatmajorsportingeventsbymonitoringandreportingonallphasesofthedopingcontrolprocessesandeducationactivitiesinanobjectivemanner.TheIOTeam,throughitsobservations,assesseswhetherproceduresareinlinewiththeWorldAnti-DopingCode(WADC)andrelevantInternationalStandardsandprovidesonsiteadvice,guidance,andassistancetothebodyinchargeofdeliveringthedopingcontrolprogramme.

TheIOTeamwishestoextenditsgratitudetoMrSteveScott,EGLiaisonOfficer,EOC;theMedicalCommissionandAnti-Doping(MedComAD)andinparticular,ProfDrKlausSteinbach,ChairoftheMedComAD;MrMarkStuart,Pharmacist,MemberoftheMedComADfromtheInternationalTestingAgency(ITA),PolishAnti-DopingAgency(POLADA)andtheLocalOrganizingCommittee(LOC)oftheEuropeanGames2023(EG2023).Inparticular,theIOTeamextendsitsgratitudetoMrMatteoVallini,ITAHeadofInternationalFederations&MajorEvents,MrGianlucaSiracusano,ITAHeadofRegulatoryCompliance,MrsKateKurylenkava,ITAMajorEventsProjectManager,MrJakeShelley,ITATestingofficer,MrLucasCombebias,ITATestingofficer,andMsStellaKapreli,ITARegulatoryComplianceOfficer,MrDamienRhumorbarbe,ITADataAnalyticsManagerfortheirsupportandcooperationbeforeandduringtheGames.SpecialthanksareextendedtoMrMichalRynkowski,POLADA’sDirectorandhisteam,forthewarmwelcome,constantsupportandavailabilitythroughouttheentireGames.Last,theIOTeamthanksMsMagdalenaZmuda-Palka,LOC,Anti-dopingManagerforhercontribution.

3.WADAIndependentObserverTeam(IOTeam)

TheWADAIOTeamconsistedof:

1.MrStefanTRINKS(Chair):Director,TestingProgram,NADAGermany

2.MsOlympiaKARAVASILI:DeputyDirector,StakeholderEngagementandPartnerships,WADA

3.MsRutaBANYTE:Director,Lithuania(LTU)NADO

4.MrIvan?osi?:Member,WADAAthleteCouncil

4.GamesOverview

TheEGareamulti-sporteventtakingplaceeveryfouryearsandthegamesinPolandwerethethirdeditionofsuchgames:the“EG2023”.TheEGareowned,regulatedandorganizedbytheEOC.TheAthleteVillagewelcomedthefirstathleteson18June2023,theopeningceremonytookplaceon21June2023andtheclosingceremonyon2July2023.Competitionstookplacefrom20Juneto2July2023.Approximately7,000athletescompetedin29disciplinesand253medalswereawardedat25competitionvenuesin13cities/townsacrosstheMalopolskaregionofwhichKrakowisthecapital.Athletescompetedin26sportsandintotal29disciplines,19ofthoseofferedqualificationsfortheOlympicGames2024inParis.TheEG2023werealsoconsideredtheEuropeanChampionshipsfortwelvesports/disciplines.

Thefulllistofsports/disciplinesisasfollows:3x3Basketball,Archery,ArtisticSwimming,Athletics,Badminton,BeachHandball,BeachSoccer,Boxing,Breaking,CanoeSlalom,CanoeSprint,Fencing,CyclingBMXFreestyle,CyclingMountainBike,Diving,Judo,Karate,Kickboxing,ModernPentathlon,Muaythai,Padel,RugbySevens,Shooting,SkiJumping,SportClimbing,TableTennis,Taekwondo,Teqball,Triathlon.

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page5/20

Withrespecttotheanti-dopingprogrammeimplementedatthegames,1,240out-of-competition(OOC)and

in-competition(IC)sampleswereplannedtobecollected.Atotalof60DopingControlOfficers(DCOs)operatedduringtheGames.

TheIOTeamvisited12outof13cities/towns,whereDopingControlStations(DCS)wereinstalled,includingallcompetitionsites,andobservedICandOOCtesting.TheIOTeamalsovisitedtheDopingControl

CommandCentre(DCCC),whichwascentralisedandlocatedattheHotelPremier,Krakow,Poland.

4.1KeyPlayersandOrganisation

TheEOCisthegoverningbodyoftheEGandasignatoryoftheWADC.WhiletheEOC,asthesignatorytotheWADC,remainedresponsiblefromaWADCcomplianceperspectiveforallaspectsofdopingcontrol

1

conductedattheGames,theEOChaddelegatedthemanagementofitsanti-dopingprogramtotheITA.Specifically,theITAwasactingastheDopingControlCoordinator(DCC)andaspertheAppendixI“DelegationofResponsibilities&Specifications”oftheagreementbetweentheEOCandtheITAwasinchargeof:theestablishmentoftheLOC’sAnti-DopingfunctionsandprotocolsbyadvisingtheEOC,trainingofSampleCollectionPersonnel(SCP),assistingtheEOCwithitsresponsetoWADA’sComplianceMonitoringprogram,setupandinputofdataintoWADA’sAnti-DopingAdministrationandManagementSystem(ADAMS),RiskAssessment(RA),TestDistributionPlan(TDP),coordinatingsamplecollectionduringtheEG2023,TherapeuticUseExemptions(TUEs),ResultsManagement,Education,andLong-TermStorage&FurtherAnalysis.

POLADAwasactingastheSampleCollectionAuthority(SCA)inclosecooperationwiththeITA.Additionally,POLADAwasresponsiblefortheorganizationandtrainingofadditionalphlebotomists,theprocurementofthesamplecollectionequipmentinsufficientquantity,Chaperonetraining(withtheITA),themanagementoftherosterandschedulingofSCP,storageandsecurityofsamples,transportofsamples,securinganddispatchofsamplecollectiondocumentationtotheITA.

TheLOCwasinchargeofthepreparation,deliveryandsecurityofDopingControlStations(DCS)inaccordancewiththerequirementsoftheWADAInternationalStandardsandpursuanttotheinstructionsoftheITAandensuringthatthenumberofChaperonesneededwasavailablefromtheVolunteersparticipatingattheEG2023.Additionally,theLOCwasalsoresponsibleforsecuringthenecessaryworkingfacilities(e.g.,offices)aswellastransportationforSCPandstaff,includingtheITAandPOLADA.

TheLOCandPOLADAplannedagroundtransportsystemfortheIOTeam,called“T3-PoolCarswithDrivers”.ThistransportsystemwouldhavebeenveryhelpfultotheIO’sabilitytomovearoundtothevariousvenuesandvillages,unfortunatelythetransportationsystem,exceptonafewrareoccasions,didnotfunctionwellformostoftheGamesperiod.Therefore,itwasquitechallengingfortheIOTeamtovisitthevariouscompetitionsitesandDCS.TransportrequestsforT3transportationhadtobesubmitted24hoursinadvanceanddespitethisbeingdoneintime,therequestsremainedmostofthetimesunansweredorwhenansweredandconfirmedfailedtodeliver.TheT3didnotcoverIntercityTransfers,sotheIOTeamtriedtouseanothersystemputinplacebytheLOC,calledthe“TA-ShuttleBuses”.Insomecases,theShuttleBuses,whichwerebusesofferedforathletesandathletessupportpersonnel,leftimmediatelyafterthelastflowerceremonyatthecompetitionvenue.Asdopingcontrolwasnotcompletedbythetimethebusesdepartedthevenue,thiswasnotaviableoptionfortheIOTeam.RegardingobservationsthattookplaceoutsideofKrakow,theIOTeamtriedtoorganizeothertransportation,butunfortunatelythiswasnotpossible.IntheendtheIOTeamhadtoarrangetransportationonaday-to-daybasisbyitsownmeans.Whilethisposedadailychallenge,theIOTeamwouldliketoextenditsgratitudetoPOLADAwho,totheextentpossible,supportedtheIOTeamby

1AspertheWADCdefinitionoftheDopingControl.

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page6/20

providingtwocars(fromthoseallocatedtotheDCOs),inorderfortheIOTeamtobeabletovisitcompetitionswhichweretakingplaceoutsideofKrakow.

#1.RecommendationfortheEOCandtheLOC:TheIOTeamhighlyrecommendsthatforfutureEG,amoreefficienttransportsystem(especiallyforinter-citytransfers)andoptionsforovernightstaysinremotecitieswherecompetitionstakeplace,areputinplace.BettercoordinationandmoreproactivecommunicationshouldbeestablishedaheadoftheGamestoensurethatthetransportrequirementsoftheIOmissionareunderstoodandcanbemet,asbestaspossible,toensureasuccessfulmissionduringtheGames.

5.Pre-GamesInitiativeswithWADAandWADAIOTeam

InadvanceoftheGames,theITAwasresponsiblefordevelopingtheRAandTDPonbehalfoftheEOC.Additionally,theITA,onbehalfoftheEOC,completedtheWADACodeComplianceQuestionnaire(CCQ),followingwhichallcorrectiveactionsthatwereraisedthroughtheCCQwereresolvedpriortothestartoftheGames.

WhileboththeRAandtheTDPweresubmittedandreviewedbyWADAviatheCCQ,thelatestandmostup-to-dateversionswerealsoprovidedtotheIOTeamaheadoftheGames.TheTDPincludedflexibilitytoadjusttestingand/ortodefineTargetTestingduringtheEG2023,whichwasalsoobservedinpracticebytheIOTeam.

Additionally,theITAsharedameetingplanwiththeIOTeamwhichincludedthreemeetingsbetweentheMedComAD,ITA,POLADA,LOCandtheIOTeamaswellasfrequentmeetingswiththeITA,including“infocus”meetingsonspecificareasofinterest(e.g.,ResultsManagement,TUEs,Education,Intelligence,andInvestigations).

TheITAgavetheIOTeamaccesstoanonlineticketsystemcalled“Anti-DopingCommunication”(ADCOM).Inadditiontothefrequentmeetings,thesystemfacilitatedtheIOTeam’ssharingofitsobservationsand/orquestionstotheITAinaquickandefficientway.TheresponsetimebytheITAforrequestsbytheIOTeamwasefficient.AnydocumentationrequestedbytheIOTeamwasalsosharedpromptlybytheITAusingasecuredfile-sharingsystem.

6.Pre-GamesTestingProgramandcooperationwithInternationalFederationsandNationalAnti-DopingOrganizations

NoPre-GamestestingprogramwasinplaceintheleaduptotheEG2023.However,NationalAnti-DopingOrganizations(NADOs)andInternationalFederations(IFs)wererequestedbytheITA,viaageneralcircularletterintheleaduptotheEG2023,toensurethatathletescompetingintheEG2023besubjectedtoaneffectivetestingprogramaheadoftheevent.Additionally,NADOsandIFsaswellasNOCswererequestedtoshareintelligenceandwhereaboutsinformation.

7.Athlete’sAnti-DopingEducation

DuringtheGames,whilesomeeducationalmaterialwasavailableinsomeoftheDCS(e.g.,videosontheproceduresrelatedtodriedbloodspot(DBS),urineandbloodsamplecollectionprocedures),nothingelseintermsofeducationwasprovidedduringtheGames.

Codearticle20.6.8citesthatamongotherRolesandResponsibilitiesoftheMajorEventOrganisationsisto‘Toplan,implement,evaluateandpromoteanti-dopingEducationinlinewiththerequirementsoftheInternationalStandardforEducation’andarticle7.4(

i

)oftheInternationalStandardonEducation(ISE)citesthat‘MajorEventOrganizationsshallensuretheprovisionofEducationactivitiesatEventsthataredirectly

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page7/20

undertheirauthorityasperCodeArticle20.6.8.Event-BasedEducationhasthepotentialtoreachandpositivelyimpactwideraudiences,includingthegeneralpublicandmedia’.

InajointcollaborationbetweenWADAandtheEOC,WADAsentitsAthleteEngagementteamtotheEG2023whodeliveredengagementactivitieswiththesupportofPOLADA.

WhiletheEOChadsomeeducationalofferingsinplacebeforetheEG2023aswellasduringtheGames,morecomprehensiveeducationactivitiesareidentifiedforupcomingeventsbasedontheEOC’sEducationPlan.

#2.RecommendationfortheEOC:TheIOTeamrecommendsthatforfutureEG,theEOCshouldconsiderorganisingmoreEvent-basededucationalactivitiesaswellaspre-Gamesinitiativesthathavethepotentialtoreachandpositivelyimpactwideraudiences,includingthegeneralpublicandmediaandwhichwillensuretherequirementsoftheCodeandISEarefullymet.

8.Whereabouts

IntermsofathletesparticipatingattheEG2023,theIFsandNADOsremainedthewhereaboutscustodiansinADAMSfortheirrespectiveathletesbutaccesstoviewthewhereaboutsinformationwasgrantedtotheITAfortheathletesparticipatingattheEG2023.ThiswastofacilitateOOCtesting.NADOsandIFswereaskedbytheITAbeforetheEG2023toremindathleteswithintheirRegisteredTestingPool(RTP)andTestingPools(TP)tomaintainandupdatetheirwhereaboutsinADAMStoensuretheyremainedaccurateduringtheEG2023.

Moreover,theNationalOlympicCommittees(NOCs)wereaskedtosubmitspecificevent-relatedlocationandroominginformationofallathletesbelongingtotheirdelegationsduringtheGamesperiod.Sometimes,theNOCswerenotabletoprovideanaccurateroominglistaseithertherewerechangesamongstathletesregardingtheroomtheywerestayinginordifferentarrangementsfromthehotelthaninitiallyplannedorsimplysomeathletesdidnotparticipate,whichresultedinroomingchanges.Tosimplifythisprocess,theITAprovidedaspecificITARoomingListAppwhichwasthefirsttimesuchAppwasusedattheEGs.ThisresultedinmoreaccurateNOCroomingarrangementsandahighinitialfilingratebyNOCsandstreamlinestheadministrationwhencomparedtopaperformsandspreadsheetsusedinthepast.TheuseofaroomingAppshouldcontinuetobeusedandupdatedasnecessarybasedonlearningsforfutureEGs.

WhilePOLADA,aheadoftheGames,hadaskedallthehotelswhereathleteswerestaying,toaccommodateSCPincaseitwasneededandprovidethemwiththeroominglistoftheathletes,itcametotheIOTeam’sattentionthat,onthefirstdaythatOOCtestingstartedforathletics,inanaccreditedGameshotelwhereseveralathleteswerestaying,thereceptionstaffrefusedtocooperatewiththeSCPanddidnotprovidethemwiththeroominglist.ThismadeitchallengingtoconductOOCastheSCPdidnothaveaconfirmedroominglistfromtheNOCforthatmissionandshouldthehotelreceptionstaffcalltheathletestogivetheirconsenttoprovidetheSCPwiththeirroomnumber,thiswouldbeadvancenoticegiventothoseathletes.ThereceptionstaffrefusedtocooperatewiththeSCPallegingdataprivacylawsandtherighttoprivacyoftheathletes.Inresponse,POLADAhadtocallthepolicetointervene,inorderfortheSCPtobeprovidedwiththeroominglist.TheattempttoperformtheplannedOOCtestsonthisoccasionwasunsuccessful.AftertheinterventionoftheIOTeamattheonehoteldescribedabove,theissuewasrectified,andnoadditionalincidentsofthatkindwereobservedatanyotherhotelduringtheEG.

#3.RecommendationfortheEOC:EnsureaspartoftheGamesrulesandNOCsresponsibilities,thatNOCsarerequiredtoprovideandmaintainanupdatedroominglistofathletespresentfortheGamestotheLOC.Furthermore,inthecaseofafailuretoprovidesufficientwhereaboutinformation,EOCshouldtakeappropriateconsequencesintoconsideration.

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page8/20

#4.RecommendationfortheLOC:TheIOTeamrecommendsthattheLOCinfutureGamesrequestswhereathletesarehousedinhotelsthattheLOCshouldprovideadditionalwritteninformationinadvanceoftheGamestotheHotelManagersandthestaffregardingtheserequirementstoensurethatallhotelstaffunderstandtheneedtoaccessathleteswithinthehotelfortestingwithnoadvancenoticeandcooperate,sothatsuchtestingcanbeconductedeffectivelyandinaccordancewiththeInternationalStandards.

#5.RecommendationfortheNOCs:WhereastheeffortsbytheNOCsareappreciatedtoprovideinitialroominglists,theIOTeamrecommendstheNOCsensuretheyprovideupdatedroomingliststhroughouttheGameswhentherearechangestothepreviouslistprovidedandupdatetheroomingAppthatwasputinplace.

9.TestDistributionPlan

TheITAprovidedtheIOTeamwithaTestDistributionPlan(TDP)andthecorrespondingRApriortothestartoftheGames.DuringtheGamesperiod,theTDPwasconstantlymonitored,revisedandadapted.ThiswasespeciallyreasonableforTargetTestingasTargetTestingdependedontheparticipationofindividualathletesin(qualification)eventsduringtheEG2023.Insomecases,TargetTestingofindividualathleteswassubjecttoadailyorevenhourlychange.TheIOTeamwasprovidedonrequestwithcurrentmodificationstotheTDP.

9.1RiskAssessmentandTestDistributionPlanning

TheRAdevelopedbytheITAincludedallsportsanddisciplinesincludedontheEG2023competitionschedule.Thedisciplineswereclassifiedinthreeriskcategoriesofdoping:extended(15disciplines),intermediate(13disciplines)andrestricted(9disciplines)risk.

TheallocationoftestsbasedontheRiskAssessmentwasseparatelyperformedforOOCandICtesting.TheweightingforOOCtestingwasbasedonthepopulationofathleteswithinthedeterminedrisk.Additionally,thequantityofsampleswastieredforeachriskcategory.Inthatcontext,“extended”riskdisciplinesobtainedthehighestrelativenumberoftests.Disciplineswitha“restricted”riskaccordinglyreceivedthelowestnumberoftests.Similarly,forICtestingthecombinationofthenumberofeventsandtheriskwasusedtoallocatethetestingnumbers.

Theriskassessmentmethodologyconsistedofthreesteps:

1.Definitionofnumberoftests,sampletypes,andspecificanalysisforeachdiscipline

2.Developmentofthecountryriskassessmentforeachdiscipline

3.Assessmentofindividualparametersincludingindividualperformance,individualtestinghistoryandadditionalinformationonacase-by-casebasis.

TheTDPfortheEuropeanGames2023included1,240samples(1,008urine,145blood(serumandwholeblood)andadditionally87DBSsamples).Byallocatingsamplesbasedontheriskassessment,553samples(356urine,197blood,includingDBSsamples)wereplannedforOOCtesting(44%)and687samples(652urine,35blood)wereplannedforICtesting(56%).

9.2Out-of-CompetitionTesting

Atotalof553sampleswereplannedtobecollectedOut-Of-Competition.However,558OOCsampleswerecollectedrepresenting43.4%oftotaltestsattheGames.ThisisanincreaseinthenumberofOOCtestscomparedtothe2019Games(493)asrecommendedinthe2019IOreport.

EuropeanGamesIndependentObserverReport–February2024Page9/20

All75DBSsampleswerecollectedduringOOCtestingsessions.ThecollectionoftheDBSsampleswasperformedusingafiltercardsystemrequiringaprickintheathlete’sfinger.

9.3In-CompetitionTesting

TheamountofICsamplesplannedtobecollectedwassetat687samples.Intotal729sampleswerecollectedIn-Competitionamountingto56.6%oftotaltests.WhereasbloodcollectionswereperformedIC,noDBSsampleswerecollectedduringICtestingsessions.TargetTestingwaspartoftheICTDPandbasedonindividualperformanceofathletes;evenmorepreciselyontheperformanceduringaqualificationcompetitionfollowedbyamedalcompetition.BasedonthequickdecisionsonTargetTesting,theITAmanagedtoforwardthisinformationwithshortnoticetotheDCOssothatICTargetTestingwaspossibleandperformedinseveraldisciplines.

#6.RecommendationfortheEOCandtheITA:AsobservedbytheIOTeam,noDBStestingwasperformedduringICtestingsessions.ForfutureGamesitisrecommendedtodeployallavailablesamplematricesduringICtesting,includingDBSsamples.

10.Long-termStorageofSamples

TheEOCdecidedtonotstoreanysamplesinlong-termstoragethatwerecollectedduringtheEG2023.TheEOCprovidedtheopportunitytotherespectiveIFsandNADOstorequestatransferofsampleownershipafterthesampleshavebeenanalysedforlongtermstorageandpotentialfurtheranalysisattheIFsandNADOsowncost.IFsandNADOswereinformedbytheITAbeforetheGames,thatsamplescollectedduringtheEG2023couldbeputinlong-termstorageuponspecificrequestbytheIForNADO.IFsandNADOshaduntiltheendoftheregularstoragepoliciesinthelabs(3monthsfromthereportingoftheanalyticalresultintoADAMS)torequestsuchtransferbeforeallsampleswerediscarded.However,thefollowuptothisinitialcommunicationwasonlycommunicatedtotheIFsandincludedtheathletestestedduringtheGamesperiodandrequestingtheIFtorespondwitharequesttothetransferofsuchsamplesgiventheyknewwhichathletesthesamplesbelongedto.WhilethisprocesscouldbehelpfultoIFsandNADOs,asperInternationalStandardforTestingandInvestigations(ISTI)Article4.7.3,theEOCmusthaveawrittenstrategyforsampleretentionandfurtheranalysisastheTestingAuthority.

#7.RecommendationfortheEOC:AheadofthenextEG,theEOCisrequiredtodevelopanddocumentawrittensampleretentionandfurtheranalysisstrategy(asperISTI4.7.3).Additionally,totheprocedureobservedattheEG2023,itisrecommendedtoexpandthelong-termstorageforfutureGames.Forexample,someotherMajorEventOrganizers(MEO)specifyanumberofsamplesforlong-termstoragedirectlybytheTA.Thedecisionforstoringsamplesinalong-termsetuparebasedontheassessmentofsportsanddisciplines,APMUrecommendationsand/orreceivedIntelligenceonindividualathletesortheideaofprotectingpodiuminparticularforhigherrisksports.ThisapproachcouldprovideorientationfortheEOCforfutureEuropeanGames.

Inaddition,theIOTeamalsorecommendsthattheEOCshouldproactivelyinformnotjustIFsbutalsoNADOsattheendoftheGamesregardingthesamplescollectedandanalysedfromathletesundertheirrespectivejurisdictions.AspartoftheMEO,IFandNADOcooperation,thisinformationshouldbeexchangedandsharedinasecuremanner.

11.TherapeuticUseExemptions

InformationonTherapeuticUseExemptions(TUEs)andhowtomanagetheTUEproc