Play True Day: FIS expert answers key clean sport questions
Mar 27, 2026·Inside FIS:format(webp))
At FIS, we are encouraging athletes, coaches, officials, National Ski Associations, and the wider snow sports community to take part in WADA’s #PlayTrueChallenge, which runs until Play True Day on 17 April 2026.
The initiative invites participants to record 30 seconds of any sport-related movement, before ending their video with the words: “30 seconds for clean sport. Play True. It starts with me.” Participants are then encouraged to nominate and tag three friends or colleagues, to share their video using #PlayTrueChallenge, #PlayTrueDay and #FIS, and tag @WADA.
Clean sport remains a central part of our sports integrity work, with FIS continuing to invest significant time and resources into anti-doping education and awareness. By taking part in the challenge, members of the FIS community can help amplify a positive message about fairness, integrity and respect across snow sports.
Ahead of this year’s Play True Day, Inside FIS caught up with FIS Anti-Doping Manager Vanda Wallace-Jones to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about keeping sport clean - from why athletes are tested to what happens at notification, how samples are analyzed, and what athletes should do if something does not feel right during the process.
Inside FIS: Why do anti-doping tests happen?
Vanda Wallace-Jones (VWJ): Anti-doping tests happen to protect clean athletes, support fair competition and help ensure that everyone competes on the same level playing field.
Inside FIS: How can athletes reduce the risk that a prohibited substance enters their body?
VWJ: A key principle in anti-doping is that athletes understand they are responsible for what is found in their bodies. That is why it's important to take a very careful approach to supplements, medicines and other products.
When it comes to supplements, athletes should be particularly cautious. Products bought online may carry an increased risk, including contamination during manufacturing. Athletes should seek advice from their National Ski Association anti-doping contact, team doctor or National Anti-Doping Organization.
When visiting any doctor or medical professional they should inform them that they are athletes subject to anti-doping controls and check any medications before use with their team doctor, National Ski Association or National Anti-Doping Organization.
Inside FIS: When can an athlete be tested?
VWJ: Athletes can be tested anytime, anywhere by any anti-doping organization that has jurisdiction over them. That may include an International Federation, a National Anti-Doping Organization, or the organizers of a major event.
In practice, this means an athlete may be tested for example in competition, during training, at a training camp, or at home. Testing can also take place across borders, depending on where the athlete is and which organization has jurisdiction in that setting.
Inside FIS: How are athletes selected for testing?
VWJ: Testing is based on a range of factors. Anti-doping organizations carry out risk assessments and may also consider rankings, performances and information shared between anti-doping organizations.
This risk-based approach helps organizations target testing effectively while continuing to protect the integrity of competition.
Inside FIS: What happens when an athlete is notified?
VWJ: The process is slightly different in competition and out of competition. In competition, anti-doping chaperones notify the athlete and then remain with them until they enter the processing room at the doping control station.
Out of competition it is the Doping Control Officer (DCO) who makes contact directly. A very important safeguard is identification: DCOs must identify themselves and show their ID and accreditation.
Inside FIS: Can an athlete warm down or attend a medal ceremony first?
VWJ: That depends on the competition and the circumstances. In many cases, it is possible for an athlete to attend a medal ceremony, complete media commitments or do a warm down, provided they remain accompanied by a doping control chaperone.
Inside FIS: Does the athlete get to choose the sample kit?
VWJ: Yes. There must be at least three kits available, but usually there are more. The athlete chooses the box, opens it, checks the numbers and inspects the condition of the sampling equipment. The athlete then normally pours the urine into the bottles and closes them, following the instructions of the Doping Control Officer.
If an athlete has an impairment and needs assistance, support can be provided.
Inside FIS: What do “A sample” and “B sample” mean?
VWJ: At a urine doping control the sample is split into an A and B bottle. At a blood doping control, an A and B container are filled. When samples arrive at the laboratory, the A sample is analyzed and the B sample is stored. If the A sample produces an adverse analytical finding, the B sample can then be used for a counter-analysis as foreseen in the Anti-Doping Rules.
Inside FIS: Will the laboratory know the athlete’s name?
VWJ: No. Samples are identified by a unique code and the laboratory works with a sample and then reports the findings through this code to the Anti-Doping Organization.
Inside FIS: How is an athlete informed of the result?
VWJ: Anti-Doping results are stored in a centralized global anti-doping management system provided by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Athletes can access their result through this platform. In the case of an adverse finding, a direct communication to the athlete through their National Ski Association is provided.
Inside FIS: What is a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE)?
VWJ: A TUE allows an athlete to make a request to use a medication containing a substance (or method) on the prohibited list, only when it is medically necessary. To apply, the athlete must submit all the relevant medical documentation, which is reviewed by a medical TUE commission.
Inside FIS: What should athletes do if something feels wrong during a test?
VWJ: If an athlete feels uncomfortable or believes something was not handled correctly during doping control, they should contact FIS directly at antidoping@fis-ski.com, Posting on social media is not advised.
Ideally, concerns should also be noted on the doping control form at the time, but we understand that’s not always easy in practice. Direct feedback helps FIS review concerns and improve the process where needed. In the end, we are there to help the athletes.