COVID-19 FAQ

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Changes to Procedures

Can I expect any change in the testing procedures?

The health and well-being of athletes and doping control personnel remains the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport’s (CCES) number one priority.

Following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as athletes and sports returned to training and provincial health restrictions lifted, we developed supplemental doping control procedures to enable the safe resumption of urine and blood sample collection under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). Urine collection resumed as of July 13, 2020 and blood collection as of October 26, 2020.

To reflect the current status of provincial health measures, the CCES has replaced its COVID-19 supplementary procedures with a simplified directive describing the COVID-19 health and safety measures that sample collection personnel must adhere to when completing a doping mission. The directive is in effect as of October 14, 2022.

What changes can I expect in the doping control process?

In summary, the supplemental procedures are as follows:

All CCES personnel will complete a COVID-19 self-assessment prior to performing work for the CCES.
Athletes and their representatives will be required to complete the CCES’s COVID-19 Athlete and Participant Questionnaires prior to testing.
Everyone involved in the process will maintain a physical distance where possible.
All sample collection personnel in the testing session must wear protective masks. Athletes and other participants are strongly encouraged to do so, though it is not mandatory.
Hand sanitizer will be available for the athletes and other participants, if applicable.
As of September 2021, all personnel who are actively collecting urine and/or blood samples have provided proof of vaccination prior to sample collection. This includes doping control officers, chaperones, and blood collection officers.

The COVID-19 Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Will DCOs and chaperones have to get tested for COVID-19 to ensure that they are not asymptomatic carriers?

No, however all sample collection personnel will complete a COVID-19 self-assessment on the day of testing.

How does the athlete self-assessment work?

Athletes are required to complete the CCES’s Athlete Questionnaire prior to any testing. Individuals accompanying the athlete or otherwise observing the doping control session must complete the Participant Questionnaire (e.g., athlete representative, interpreter, observers.) The questions focus on existing symptoms and individuals who have tested positive, and should be answered as completely and accurately as possible.

If an athlete answers yes to any of the questions, the session will be terminated. Following the session, the CCES will contact the athlete to confirm the information provided and may also ask additional questions or request documentation.

If a participant answers yes to any of the questions, they cannot participate in the session.

What if an athlete provides false answers on the self-assessment, reporting fake COVID-19 symptoms, in an attempt to get out of a test?

In any situation where a doping control session is terminated, the CCES will review the questionnaire with the athlete to verify their responses.

In cases where the information provided by the athlete appears fraudulent or unsubstantiated, the CCES will commence a formal investigation into the situation to determine if an anti-doping rule violation (e.g., Tampering or Evading) has occurred.

What if I am self-isolating due to possible exposure to COVID-19 or as a result of recent travel outside of Canada?

Athletes in the CCES’s registered testing pool (RTP) or an international federation’s RTP should inform the CCES and their national sport organization if they are in isolation or are self-isolating for any reason. This information should also be included in the athlete’s whereabouts submission. The CCES or the relevant international federation may follow up with an athlete who has provided notice of isolation to seek more information.

Testing at Home

Can the CCES test me at home? My apartment is pretty small and I have roommates.

Yes, athletes remain subject to testing any time, any place. All sample collection will be conducted following the procedures outlined in the COVID-19 directive, which may exceed provincial health measures. Athletes should consider the following tips when preparing for a home visit:

Pre-identify an area in the home that can serve as the doping control station where a physical distance can be maintained where possible.
Discuss with other individuals in the home the possibility of a home visit for the purpose of sample collection, and potential areas that could serve as a doping control station.
With the exception of the athlete representative, all others in the home should ideally stay away from the identified area during the session.
Finally, while testing can occur anytime, RTP athletes who submit whereabouts information are encouraged to list their 60-minute time slot in a location that they feel most comfortable for testing.

I live with a person who is elderly and/or immunocompromised. Will I still be required to submit to testing during a home visit?

Pre-identify an area in the home that can serve as the doping control station where a physical distance can be maintained where possible.
Discuss with other individuals in the home the possibility of a home visit for the purpose of sample collection, and potential areas that could serve as a doping control station.
Consider other areas of the home where the elderly and/or immunocompromised individual can wait during the process or work with the DCO to provide time for the individual to leave the residence.
Where possible, work with the DCO to conduct as much of the process outside of the home as possible (e.g., in a yard, outside of the athlete’s apartment or condo building).
Finally, while testing can occur anytime, RTP athletes who submit whereabouts information are encouraged to list their 60-minute time slot in a location that they feel most comfortable for testing.

I am a Paralympic athlete and live in a semi-autonomous facility. During the pandemic, visitors are not permitted to access the building so I cannot let a DCO in. Will I be facing a violation for refusing a test for something that is out of my control?

Any athlete living in a semi-autonomous facility that has a defined protocol to prohibit external visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic would not be expected to have doping control take place in that facility.

If a DCO arrives at an athlete’s residence and learns of this protocol, they would discuss with the athlete other potential locations for the test to take place. If that could not be achieved, the DCO may terminate the session.

For these athletes, the CCES will work with national sport organizations to focus on testing in training facilities or a location other than their residence.

Testing at Training Venues

My training centre has implemented strict protocols to control access to the venue during the COVID-19 pandemic. How can I make sure that a DCO can test at my training location?

Any athlete in the CCES RTP who trains in locations other than Canadian Sport Institutes should include this information in their whereabouts submission so the CCES can prepare to access the training venue and adapt its procedures as necessary.

Testing by Organizations Other than the CCES

I am an athlete training overseas. Am I still subject to testing?

All athletes who are subject to the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP) can be tested whether they are in Canada or another country.

When athletes are selected to be tested overseas, the CCES will work closely with the sample collection authority (the organization that will collect the sample on our behalf) to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented in accordance with the country’s health regulations.

Blood Collection Procedures

Why is the CCES resuming the collection of blood samples?

Blood collection is required to detect the fullest range of substances and methods on WADA’s Prohibited List. Blood samples are required to detect blood doping, the use of human Growth Hormones (hGH) and to monitor selected blood parameters as part of the Athlete Biological Passport Program.

For more information on blood testing, visit the Blood Collection FAQ or email [email protected].

What measures are in place to ensure my safety during blood collection?

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCES has continued to subcontract specialized and reputable organizations to provide certified phlebotomists to draw blood from athletes.

Sample collection procedures for urine and blood incorporate the following supplementary measures:

All CCES personnel, including the blood collection officers (BCO), will complete a COVID-19 self-assessment prior to performing work for the CCES.
Athletes and their representatives are required to complete the CCES’s COVID-19 Athlete and Participant Questionnaires prior to any testing.
Everyone involved in the process will maintain a physical distance where possible.
All sample collection personnel in the testing session must wear protective masks. Athletes and other participants are strongly encouraged to do so, though it is not mandatory. The BCO may wear additional personal protective equipment such as gloves and a face shield.
Hand sanitizer will be available for the athletes and other participants, if applicable.
As of September 2021, all personnel who are actively collecting urine and/or blood samples have provided proof of vaccination prior to sample collection. This includes DCOs, chaperones and BCOs.

When and where can blood samples be collected during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Sample collection for urine and blood collection can occur anytime, anywhere, including your residence, training location (if you are training), or a temporary location.

Depending on the type of analysis requested on your blood sample(s), you may be required to wait between 30 minutes and two hours after a period of physical exertion before the BCO can collect a blood sample. To limit the potential waiting time and to reduce the total amount of time spent in doping control, we recommend that registered testing pool (RTP) athletes identify training times in their whereabouts submission clearly (e.g., “training at home from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m.”).

Can a BCO collect my blood while remaining physically distanced?

Sample collection personnel are trained to maintain a physical distance where possible during the doping control process; however, there are instances during doping control, such as venipuncture, when physical distancing cannot be maintained. To increase personal protection, all sample collection personnel in the testing session must wear protective masks. Athletes and other participants are strongly encouraged to do so, though it is not mandatory. The BCO may also wear additional personal protective equipment, such as gloves and a face shield.

Can I ask to provide only urine samples during the COVID-19 pandemic?

You must provide the samples that are identified when you are notified for testing, which can include urine and/or blood. Failure to provide a sample may result in an anti-doping rule violation.

Can the CCES test my blood sample for COVID-19 antibodies?

The rules of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP) are clear that all samples collected (urine and blood) are for anti-doping purposes only. As such, at this time additional analysis for COVID-19 is not permitted under the CADP.

For general information about blood collection, refer to the Blood Collection FAQ or email [email protected].

Vaccination Policy

Are sample collection personnel, such as doping control officers, chaperones and blood collection officers, required to be vaccinated?

In September 2021, the CCES implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy for all sample collection personnel, including volunteers. All personnel who are actively collecting urine and/or blood samples have provided proof of vaccination prior to sample collection.

Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport