Sport Testing And Resources (STAR)

2010 marked a busy and productive year for the Sport Testing and Resources (STAR) team. The STAR team establishes and implements internal operational processes in order to oversee the Doping Control Officers (DCOs) and enhance the sample collection process, with a goal of facilitating effectiveness and efficiency, while ensuring the well-being of athletes and the integrity of sample collection. The division is split into two main functions: Project Management, which creates resources to assist in DCO operations, and DCO Management which concentrates on the day-to-day management of DCO personnel.

Among the many projects and goals completed throughout the year, the structure of the STAR division was enhanced to better manage and facilitate doping control activities by combining both the test planning and administration team with the sample collection operations and training team, thus incorporating these two groups into one STAR division structure.

Regional Team Lead Development

The management structure of DCOs and sample collection personnel was further developed in 2010 through the institution of the Regional Team Lead (RTL) structure. Through a comprehensive interview and evaluation process, four RTLs were appointed from within the DCO ranks to assist and oversee the management of DCO and sample collection operations. These four RTLs assumed supervisory responsibility over four geographic regions of DCOs throughout the U.S., to increase communication and feedback avenues both to and from the USADA office and the field as well as enhance the overall quality of DCO performance management. As credentialed DCOs, these RTLs provide practical input to the enhancement of sample collection processes, serve as mentors and leaders in directing management processes and decision-making, and can speak from experience when evaluating sample collection activities.

DCO Advantage

Another undertaking by the STAR team was the development of DCO Advantage, a new online training curriculum for DCOs. Driven largely by the Resources, Education and Training team within STAR, this project enhances DCO training through a comprehensive and interactive online curriculum, in addition to more traditional in-person workshops or conference-based trainings. In conjunction with the Athlete’s Advantage eLearning tools, training DCOs remotely enhances and economizes training efforts by facilitating greater frequency and efficiency for the overall quality of USADA’s testing program.

DCO Conference

In October, the STAR team hosted the 2010 DCO Conference, bringing DCOs from across the country to Colorado Springs, Colorado to participate. With the implementation of the DCO RTL structure and the transition from exclusively in-person training sessions to the addition of DCO Advantage online training modules, STAR was able to primarily focus the conference on the overall development of field decisions and best practices, as well as communicating the enhancements that were made to the DCO structure. As the conference was hosted in Colorado, STAR was also able to incorporate a large number of USADA headquarters staff in the planning and facilitation of the conference, and include DCOs in USADA’s tenth anniversary celebration as a full staff.

DCOs and USADA headquarters staff together for CEO, Travis T. Tygart’s commemorative speech at the tenth anniversary celebration