Requirement of Testing Pools

Registered Testing Pool (RTP)
The Registered Testing Pool (RTP) is the pool of highest-priority athletes established separately at the national level by the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) and at the international level by the athlete’s International Federation. Athletes included in a RTP are subject to both in-competition and out-of-competition testing as part of their ADO’s test distribution plan and are therefore required to provide Whereabouts information as provided in Code Art. 5.5 (Athletes Whereabouts Information) and the International Standard for Testing and Investigations.

The ISTF updates the composition of the RTP on a regular basis. Athletes are included in the RTP based on a set of criteria defined by the ADO.
Inclusion in the RTP is done via the ISTF Inclusion Letter – this document contains all the key information, deadlines and athletes’ responsibilities as it relates to athletes’ RTP obligations.

Whereabouts Requirements
RTP athletes must regularly provide Whereabouts and contact information in ADAMS, , WADA’s online anti-doping administration and management system. This information helps ADOs with testing jurisdiction over the athlete to plan out-of-competition testing.

The Whereabouts requirements include but are not limited to:

At a minimum, you must include the following information in your Whereabouts submission
1. An up-to-date mailing address (street name, house number, floor, postal code, city, country) and email address where correspondence may be sent to you for formal notice purposes;
2. At least one designated phone number that the ISTF will use, if necessary to reach you for Testing and notice purposes.
3. One daily specific 60-minute time slot between 5am and 11pm where you guarantee to be available and accessible for Testing.
4. Your overnight accommodation for each day. This is the place where you will be staying overnight (e.g. home, temporary lodging, hotel, etc.);
5. Any and all your training and regular activities that are part of your regular routine (training at the gym, regular physio sessions, school, work, etc.);
6. Your travel schedule;
7. Your competition schedule;
8. Any additional information deemed necessary to enable any ADO intending to locate you for Testing, namely sufficient information to gain access to the location and find you at the location, without prior notice.

For the sake of clarity, it is mentioned that the filing of one specific 60-minute time slot between 5am and 11pm does not limit in any way the Athlete’s obligation to submit to Testing at any time and place upon request of an ADO with Testing Authority over him or her. Nor does it limit the Athlete’s obligation to provide accurate and complete information to enable competent ADO to locate the Athlete for testing at any time on any given day of the quarter, as to his/her whereabouts outside that 60-minute time slot.

Submitting late, inaccurate or incomplete Whereabouts information may result in a Filing Failure.
An athlete may receive a Missed Test if they are not available for testing during the 60-minute time slot indicated in ADAMS. Three Whereabouts Failures (any combination of a Filing Failure and a Missed Test) occurring within a 12-month period will lead to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation and a potential two-year ban from sport.

It is also important to note that under the Principle of Strict Liability, the athlete remains responsible for the information submitted, even if they have delegated this task to a member of their support team.

Below are some helpful Whereabouts tips for athletes:
• Set a calendar reminder of the key dates/deadlines to submit quarterly Whereabouts information
• Set an alarm for the start of the 60-minute time slot
• Be as specific as possible when submitting your Whereabouts information
• When in doubt, ask for help via the ISTF or the ADAMS Help Centre
• Make use of the Athlete Central app to submit your Whereabouts information on a mobile device

Retirement and Return to Competition
All athletes who decide to retire from competition must inform their ADO by completing the relevant forms or paperwork.

If you no longer wish to participate in competition at international level or national level, you must give written notice to the ISTF.

Please note that your retirement is effective only once the ISTF has received your written notice.
As per the ISTF ADR, should you wish to resume international or national competition after having given notice of your retirement, you must give the ISTF a six (6)-month prior written notice before returning to competition and make yourself available for Testing during those 6 months, including (if requested by the ISTF) complying with the whereabouts requirements.