U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Announces First Quarter Testing Numbers for 2006

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) performed a total of 2,259 doping control tests in the first quarter (January 1–March 31) of 2006, including 2,037 domestic tests.  Out-of-Competition (OOC) testing, widely considered to be the most effective method of deterrence, comprised 62 percent (1,259) of USADA’s first-quarter domestic tests.  The 778 In-Competition (IC) tests accounted for the remaining 38 percent of USADA’s domestic numbers.

OOC testing typically occurs at the athlete’s training facility or other location and is performed with no advance notice to the athlete; however, some OOC tests are coordinated during team training camps.  Fifty-eight of the OOC tests in the first quarter of 2006 were carried out at camps.

USADA conducted 860 IC tests at 46 competitions in the United States, including six events for which USADA was contracted to provide doping-control services.

Events at which testing took place included the U.S. Bowling Championships, the U.S. Fencing Junior Olympics, the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, the U.S. Luge Junior National Championships, the U.S. Speedskating National Short Track Championships and the USA Boxing National Championships.

In the first quarter, USADA administered 222 tests on U.S. and non-U.S. athletes in the United States on behalf of other anti-doping and sports organizations.  During the same period USADA enlisted the assistance of international agencies to perform 45 tests on U.S. athletes living or training abroad.

USADA announced six anti-doping rules violations in the first quarter of 2006, including one suspension for a test refusal, one suspension involving the prohibited substance 19-norandrosterone, one suspension involving the prohibited substance tetrahydrocannabinol, one suspension involving L-methamphetamine, the suspension of a Uruguayan athlete for the prohibited substance recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) and an anabolic agent, and a public warning involving use of finasteride, which is classified as a masking agent.

USADA is responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.  USADA is equally dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs.

USADA announces its testing numbers quarterly.  Individual cases of alleged doping violations are announced at the time of the resolution.  For the testing history of individual athletes, visit the USADA Web site at www.usantidoping.org.

 

FIRST QUARTER 2006 U.S. ANTI-DOPING AGENCY DOMESTIC TESTING NUMBERS

 

KEY:

OOC: Out-of-Competition Testing (no advance notice)

CAMP: Out-of-Competition Camp Testing

IC: In-Competition Testing

 

First Quarter 2006

USADA Tests            User Pay Tests

Out-of Competition                                             1201                                                            140

OOC Camp                                                                58                                                  0

In-Competition                                                       778                                                              82

Total                                                          2037                                                          222

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