FIS FACT SHEET: FIS Anti-Doping Programme Season 2012-2013 – Update November 2012

This FIS Fact Sheet is intended to provide an update on FIS Anti-Doping Activities leading up to and during the 2012/13 season. The fight against doping remains an important focus for FIS, through a zero-tolerance policy on doping and cheating in sport.

The FIS Anti-Doping Programme continues to focus on unannounced out-of-competition testing, collecting athlete biological passport (ABP) tests from athletes in the registered testing pool. In addition to Cross-Country Skiing and Nordic Combined, Alpine Skiing and Ski Jumping athletes have been included in ABP testing that involves “at home” blood and urine tests. Additionally, to comply with current rules for the ABP Programme, the FIS Anti-Doping Rules have been adapted and will come into force on 1st January 2013.

1. Out-of-Competition Testing Program

Following the practice of the previous season and as mandated by the World Anti-Doping Code, no notice, out-of-competition target tests remain the primary focus of testing. The International Testing Pool of FIS currently consists of 334 athletes in the six FIS Olympic disciplines.

From 1st May to 18th November 2012, FIS has conducted the following number of out-of-competition tests:

FIS Out-of-Competition Tests 1st May-18th November 2012

Cross-Country

Urine 136 EPO 136 Blood tests 35 Blood passport 126

Nordic Combined

Urine 28 EPO 20 Blood tests 18 Blood passport 28

Ski Jumping

Urine 27 EPO 13 Blood tests 25

Alpine

Urine 72 EPO 24 Blood tests 54 Blood passport 70

Freestyle

Urine 5

Snowboard

Urine 5

Total

Urine 273 EPO 193 Blood tests 132 Blood passport 224

In addition, during the same time period, WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) has conducted the following number of out-of-competition tests:

WADA Out-of-Competition Tests 1st May-18th November 2012

Cross-Country

Urine 13 EPO 12 Blood tests 11 Blood passport 9

Nordic Combined

Urine 2 EPO 2 Blood tests 1

Alpine

Urine 3 EPO 2

Snowboard

Urine 2 EPO 2

The above numbers do not include the out-of-competition tests conducted by the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) under their responsibility.

To view a statistical summary of tests conducted during the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons, please refer to http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/fis-wada-testing-2010-11-season-final-150411.pdf and http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/fis-ooct-2011-12-season-final.pdf

2. In-Competition Testing Programme

FIS conducts in-competition testing at selected FIS World Cup events. Additionally, testing is coordinated with many National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) who carry out in-competition testing at a number of FIS World Cup events.

3. FIS Anti-Doping Rules 2013 and Start Prohibition

The FIS Council at its meeting on 3rd November 2012 in Oberhofen (SUI) approved amendments to the FIS Anti-Doping Rules in order to ensure they are up to date with current practice, notably concerning the implementation of the Athletes Blood Passport that was implemented by FIS on its introduction by WADA in 2001, also in relation to start prohibition.

The hematological module of the FIS Athlete Biological Passport Testing involves regular monitoring of markers of blood doping on a longitudinal basis to identify enhancement of oxygen transport, including use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents and any form of blood transfusion or manipulation. Longitudinal monitoring of athletes’ blood profiles helps detect blood doping and warrants the exclusion from competition of athletes with aberrant variations in markers of blood doping.

In the event that a result is an atypical value or triggers an atypical longitudinal profile, the Athlete Blood Passport must be reviewed by an expert. In case the expert is of the opinion that it is highly unlikely that the longitudinal profile is the result of a normal physiological or pathological condition and may be the result of the use of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method, a start prohibition of five consecutive days will be issued. The earlier applied start prohibition based on a high haemoglobin value only has been revised.

"It is now possible to remove the maximum haemoglobin values as basis for the start prohibition, and instead evaluate the testing results of each athlete based on their individual biological variables." explains FIS Anti-Doping Expert Rasmus Damsgaard.

To view the FIS Anti-Doping Rules in their version valid from 1st January 2013 on, please refer to http://www.fis-ski.com/uk/medical/fisanti-doping/medicalantidoping/rulesandforms.html

4. FIS’ Anti-Doping awareness campaign “Clean As Snow – SAY NO! TO DOPING”

SAY NO! TO DOPING is an awareness campaign created by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for organisations to unite behind in support of doping-free sport.

FIS shows its commitment to clean sport by incorporating WADA’s guidelines and campaign into its own “Clean as Snow” campaign. The "Clean as Snow" campaign is FIS’s and FIS Athletes’ Commission’s message in the interest of fair and clean sport. The campaign was implemented by FIS beginning with the season 2011/2012. As was already done last season, the “Clean as Snow” logo will be present on the Cross-Country and Nordic Combined training bibs for all athletes and team officials. The campaign will also include other activities especially at the season’s highlight events.

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The overall investment by FIS in its Anti-Doping programme during the 2012/2013 season is budgeted with the same amount as in the previous season and amounts to approximately CHF 1.5 million. This includes both the in- and out-of-competition testing programmes and various preventive, informational and educational efforts.

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About FIS

FIS is the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding, founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIS manages the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules. Through its 115 member nations, more than 6’500 FIS ski and snowboard competitions are staged annually. Specific initiatives are undertaken by FIS to promote snow activities as a healthy leisure recreation, notably for the young.

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