Operation of the anti‐doping laboratory for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Abstract

Doping analysis with a fast‐turnaround‐time reporting of 24/48 h is a “traditional” requirement for major competitions such as the Olympic Games, which require tremendously increased allocation of resources, especially during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The “Closed‐Loop” concept and operation mode established by the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (BOCOG) provided a relatively isolated environment to non‐Games‐related civilians. To maintain this system, more than 200 persons were included as supporting crew of the laboratory with massive logistic resources allocated. The National Anti‐Doping Laboratory in Beijing carried out the analysis mission of the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. During the Winter Olympics, 3165 samples were analyzed, whereas during the Paralympics, 679 samples were analyzed. The workforce accomplishing this work was composed of 36 domestic analysts, 20 international experts from other World Anti‐Doping Agency‐accredited laboratories, 61 university students with suitable majors, and 12 on‐site instrumental engineers. This article summarizes the achievements from the laboratory's preparation phase; in‐Game operational details such as instruments, methods, workforces, and facility; and the Quality Assurance measures to maintain the integrity and correctness of results reported to the Result Management Authority, with the effect of the pandemic and “Closed‐Loop” situation during the whole process highlighted.

Dried blood spots for doping controls—Development of a comprehensive initial testing procedure with fully automated sample preparation

“…In September 2021, a technical document was released by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), harmonizing DBS testing with respect to sample collection and transport, as well as analytical testing and sample storage, giving juridical relevance to adverse analytical findings obtained from dried blood (World Anti-Doping Agency, 2023). This was followed by the implementation of DBS in routine testing at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022 for the first time (Wang et al, 2022). Accordingly, a further growth of the contribution of DBS to routine doping controls is expected.…”

Annual banned‐substance review 16th edition—Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2022/2023

“…11,12 Besides, the issue of contaminated and adulterated dietary supplements resulting in AAFs during doping controls still exists, both in manufactured and compounded products, 13,14 which substantially increases the risk of AAFs and ADRVs as well as health issues as recently outlined by Pascali et al 15 and Tran et al 16 Advancing test methods for doping controls is vital for modern sports drug testing programs, 17 as demonstrated by attributable effects and impact 18 as well as their implementation into routine application at major sporting events. 19,20 Research aiming at facilitating such advances are commonly aligned with the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA's) Prohibited List 21 and its 11 classes of banned substances (S0-S9 plus P1) and three categories of prohibited methods (M1-M3) (Table 1). The 2023 edition of the Prohibited List featured only few modifications in comparison to the 2022 version, 22 for example, the addition of further examples of prohibited substances such as androst-4-ene-3,11,17-trione and 17αmethylepithiostanol to section S1.1 and ractopamine, S-23, and YK-11 to section S1.2, apitegromab to section S4.3, torasemide to section S5, solriamfetol to section S6b, and voxelotor to section M1.…”

“…Advancing test methods for doping controls is vital for modern sports drug testing programs, 17 as demonstrated by attributable effects and impact 18 as well as their implementation into routine application at major sporting events 19,20 . Research aiming at facilitating such advances are commonly aligned with the World Anti‐Doping Agency's (WADA's) Prohibited List 21 and its 11 classes of banned substances (S0–S9 plus P1) and three categories of prohibited methods (M1–M3) (Table 1).…”

Ultraviolet spectra determination and computational analysis of 44 E/Z steroid isomers in dried blood spot

“…17,18 Nowadays, DBS has been used as a promising complementary matrix for AAS testing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and Paralympics. 19 In order to improve the analysis sensitivity, several derivatization methods are developed. Hydroxylamine, 20,21 methoxylamine, 22 and even Girad's P reagent 23 have been validated as fit for purpose in doping control.…”