Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport

(Ottawa, Ontario – October 13, 2020) – Following the successful resumption of urine testing during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and encouraged by positive feedback from stakeholders, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) has developed supplemental procedures to enable the safe resumption of blood collection under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP) effective October 26, 2020.

The supplemental blood collection procedures are aligned with the supplemental urine procedures and incorporate safeguards that are necessary to protect both athletes and sample collection personnel from the transmission of COVID-19. As with the urine testing, the blood collection procedures involved a complete review and risk assessment of each aspect of the doping control process. 

The resumption of blood collection is a critical phase to complete our return to testing. The collection of blood is crucial to detect the fullest range of substances and methods on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List and to monitor selected blood parameters as part of the Athlete Biological Passport.

Sample collection, urine and/or blood, will continue to incorporate the following measures:

• All CCES personnel, including contracted blood collection officers, will complete a COVID-19 self-assessment prior to performing work for the CCES.  
• At the time of notification, athletes will be required to complete a COVID-19 self-assessment as well. 
• All participants will maintain appropriate physical distancing as much as possible. 
• All participants in the testing session must wear protective masks.
• Hand washing and sanitizing has been incorporated into the process and hand sanitizer will be available for all participants’ use.
• There will be very limited sharing of supplies. 

The health and safety of athletes and sample collection personnel remains our top priority. The CCES will continue to monitor public health agency regulations and will adjust testing plans accordingly. This includes any new provincial, territorial and/or regional restrictions implemented as a result of the recent rise of COVID-19 cases.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the CCES at [email protected]. The supplemental procedures are incorporated in the CCES’s True Sport Clean e-learning course which is available to all CCES stakeholders.

About the CCES

The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization with a responsibility to administer the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. We recognize that true sport can make a great difference for individuals, communities and our country. The CCES acknowledges funding, in part, from the Government of Canada. We are committed to making sport better by working collaboratively to activate a values-based and principle-driven sport system; protecting the integrity of sport from the negative forces of doping and other unethical threats; and advocating for sport that is fair, safe and open to everyone.