The International Swimming Federation (FINA) is making an effort to ramp up anti-doping measures before the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
They plan to conduct a total of 2000 out-of-competition (OOC) tests from January 1, 2021 up to the start of the Tokyo Games, according to a press release they sent out Monday.
In 2016, FINA recorded approximately 1950 out-of-competition doping tests in total for the entire year.
OOC tests are conducted 365 days a year without any prior notice being given to the athlete. They differ from other doping tests because they are given when an athlete is not competing at a competition or event.
FINA worked with the International Testing Agency (ITA) to create a “comprehensive, fair, and strategic testing distribution plan” to reach this goal. They did not share the details of this plan.
“FINA is grateful for the cooperation of all athletes during this difficult pandemic period,” they wrote in the press release.
FINA President Husain al Musallam has been very active in putting out statements, akin to ‘policy statements,’ since he took over the position in early June.
Most recently, on June 26, FINA issued a statement that they were officially invalidating the times posted at the Uzbekistan Open after allegations that the times were altered.
FINA also released a statement on the implementation of its “Rules on the Protection from Harassment and Abuse” on June 25.
Full Press Release:
| FINA reinforces Anti-Doping effort before Tokyo 2020 Olympics | |
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Wonderful. But what happens now is less important than the state of testing in the earlier pandemic months. FINA-ITA need to make full disclosure as to which swimmers who will be participating in the Olympics have been tested, and the dates of those tests. FINA has published such lists on its website in the past. Why not now? Blanket numbers of tests mean nothing–the “who” and “when” actually matter. Full disclosure and transparency is needed. What say you on that score, Brent Nowicki and Husain al Musallam?
I can only hope that even more strenuous testing and “blood passport” protocols will be forthcoming. Swimming has got to be as clean a sport as possible, even in the face of state-sponsored doping.
Whoa, why did we get rid of the ‘doctor examining piss’ photo…. Sadge
Sun yang is shaking right now
Hella do it !!!