The long-term storage of samples has emerged as one of the most impactful strategies in the protection of clean athletes and deterrence of doping. Today, urine and blood samples can be stored for up to 10 years. This allows them to be re-tested for previously undetected substances, should scientific breakthroughs allow for new technology and analysis methods.
The ITA operates its own secure, centralised long-term storage facility in which samples can be stored for re-testing following a risk assessment carried out by the ITA, based on Athlete Biological Passport data, intelligence and/or laboratory recommendations, or any source of information or anticipation of scientific developments.
