LAUSANNE, Switzerland (4 July 2001) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) agreed in principle last Monday in Lausanne to support a number of IOC accredited laboratories to increase international capacity to conduct erythropoietin (EPO) testing. WADA took this decision, subject to approval of its Executive Committee, at the suggestion of the International Cycling Union (UCI) and five other International Sports Federations (IFs) that are working with WADA to further develop an unannounced, out-of-competition testing program for banned oxygen-carrying agents, such as EPO.

WADA has already hosted three meetings in Lausanne with FIS (International Ski Federation), FISA (International Rowing Federation), IAAF (International Amateur Athletic Federation), ISU (International Skating Union), IBU (International Biathlon Union) and UCI (International Cycling Union).

WADA’s funding should help speed up development of the laboratory capacity necessary to conduct effective EPO testing by defraying some of the substantial costs associated with purchasing equipment and training staff. Currently, only the laboratories in Paris, Lausanne and Sydney have the ability to conduct the EPO test. The Oslo and Barcelona laboratories should be able to conduct such analyses in the near future.

This decision to help fund laboratory development follows two other recent EPO-related WADA decisions: to conduct out-of competition EPO testing and to fund research into the detection of EPO and similar compounds. WADA’s Executive Committee agreed to conduct the tests for EPO and other oxygen-carrying agents on an unannounced, out-of-competition basis, provided the testing protocols receive the necessary scientific approvals and the existing legal agreements with the IFs are amended.

The testing program, once in place, will involve a two-step process and employ a modified version of the EPO test approved for use during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In the first step, blood will be collected from athletes and tested to detect abnormal parameters. Based on the results of this blood test, a follow-up urine test is conducted to detect the use of agents enhancing the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, such as EPO.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Isabelle Tornare, WADA Communications, on + 41 21 343 43 02,
or visit our web site at: http://www.wada-ama.org.