AIU highlights the importance of Out-of-Competition testing

Following the controveries that trailed world 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan’s charge for three whereabouts failures, Athletics
Integrity Unit has come out to highlight the importance of Out-of-Competition testing.

The AIU says there is the need to protect the integrity of the sport, specifically the finals and podium places.

The AIU, under its Registered Testing Pool (RTP), is responsible for testing elite international-level athletes, mainly those in the Top 10 of their
discipline – both men and women – who are likely to enjoy success at major international events.

‘Given the predictability of in-competition testing, the AIU’s emphasis is on OOC testing for RTP athletes and, wherever they reside or train, these competitors are tested regularly OOC by the AIU.

‘No-notice testing is a critical component in mitigating doping by catching sophisticated cheaters and deterring would-be
cheaters.’

‘Otherwise, doping can be done prior to competition, be undetectable during the event, but still have a significant impact on an athlete’s performance.’

It is generally only possible to do OOC testing on athletes who are in a RTP and who provide Whereabouts information.

The key requirement in Rule 15 is that an athlete from a ‘Category A’ country like Nigeria must undergo at least three no-notice, out-of-competition tests (urine and blood), conducted no less than 3 weeks apart in the 10 months leading up to a major event.

Only then do such athletes become eligible to represent their national team at the World Athletics Championships or the Olympic Games.