As an athlete competing at the international level, providing urine and blood samples for anti-doping testing is a routine part of your training and competition experience. But what happens to your samples after the initial analysis is complete?
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and other anti-doping organizations have the ability to store samples for extended periods, allowing for retesting as new detection methods become available. At Global Sports Advocates, we encourage athletes to familiarize themselves with sample storage rules and what these policies could mean for their right to compete.
Understanding Sample Retention Periods
Article 17 of the World Anti-Doping Code sets out the statute of limitations for anti-doping rule violations. It specifies that an anti-doping rule violation can be brought against an athlete for up to 10 years from the date the violation is alleged to have occurred:
No anti-doping rule violation proceeding may be commenced against an Athlete or other Person unless he or she has been notified of the anti-doping rule violation as provided in Article 7, or notification has been reasonably attempted, within ten (10) years from the date the violation is asserted to have occurred.
This means that any sample an athlete provides can be retested for banned substances up to 10 years from the date of sample collection. The effect of this is that all WADA-accredited laboratories are required to have secure long-term storage facilities to maintain sample integrity for this 10-year period.
Practically speaking, most samples are not kept for a full decade but rather for periods ranging from a few months to several years, depending on the type of sample, the competition level, and available storage resources. Anti-doping organizations have discretion in determining how long to store samples based on their individual policies and risk assessments. Additionally, blood samples typically have shorter retention times than urine samples due to concerns about degradation.
Samples collected at major international competitions like the Olympics are more likely to be stored long-term compared to samples from lower-level events. In December 2023, the International Testing Agency (ITA), acting on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), announced that they were beginning the re-analysis program for samples collected during the Olympic Games Rio 2016. The first phase was completed prior to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and focused on athletes who were still actively competing. The second phase will take place in 2025. All re-analysis will be performed before the statute of limitations in July 2026.
How Samples Are Retested
Samples must be stored securely with appropriate chain of custody procedures. Retesting is subject to the same analytical standards as initial testing.
Athletes retain the right to challenge any adverse findings stemming from reanalysis, including questioning the integrity of long-term sample storage.
What Athletes Can Do to Protect Themselves
Athletes need to be aware that a negative test result today does not necessarily close the book on a particular sample. Athletes facing doping allegations based on retested samples from years past may need to reconstruct training logs, supplement use, and other relevant information from years earlier. Careful record-keeping of all medications, supplements, and treatments throughout an athlete's career is advisable in case the need to explain an adverse finding arises years later.
If you are facing a potential anti-doping rule violation, experienced legal representation is recommended. The international anti-doping lawyers at Global Sports Advocates have handled a wide range of international doping cases, as well as other issues related to global sports compliance. Refer to our case results and testimonials pages to learn about some of our recent successes.