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The International Testing Agency (ITA) took the helm of the anti-doping program for the European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023 on behalf of the European Olympic Committees (EOC). From June 18 to July 2, the ITA ensured that the participating 7,000 athletes from 48 European countries could compete fairly through an independent and expert-led clean sport framework. The anti-doping program for the European Games 2023 was delivered in collaboration with the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) as the implementing partner and with the support of the Kraków-Małopolska 2023 Organising Committee.
Members of the ITA delegation managing the anti-doping program for the European Games on-site in Poland.
After a preparatory period that began in the middle of 2022, the ITA was fully prepared to deliver the anti-doping program for the third edition of the European Games, which took place in Kraków and the Region of Małopolska in southern Poland over the past two weeks until July 2. The EOC, as the umbrella body for Europe’s National Olympic Committees, entrusted the ITA with its operational clean sport program in early 2021 to provide a level playing field for athletes participating in its sporting events through the ITA’s knowledge, experience, and expertise.
One of the main pillars of the ITA’s clean sport activities for Kraków-Małopolska 2023 was the testing program. The over 1,200 samples collected during these controls at the event could be urine, blood, or Dried-Blood-Spot (DBS). For the implementation of the doping controls for the event, the ITA relied on the collaboration with POLADA. It also collaborated with the Local Organising Committee to ensure the smooth delivery of the anti-doping program. Over 30 doping control stations distributed over the 25 venues in 13 cities/towns and the athlete’s village were set up as part of the clean sport program for the event. Samples were analysed in the WADA-accredited laboratory in Warsaw.
The team of international and polish Doping Control Officers (DCOs) that conducted doping controls during the European Games.
The POLADA-managed anti-doping workforce for the European Games consisted of 17 Polish doping control officers and over 40 doping control officers from 19 other European countries, all of whom were ITA-certified, and over 30 experienced phlebotomists from Poland. Together with around 120 chaperones, the ITA staff on-site, and other support personnel, the anti-doping workforce for the event was over 260 people strong.
The ITA was furthermore responsible for the management of the Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for the event and the administration of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) program.
The anti-doping program for the European Games 2023 was delivered in strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its connected International Standards. The ITA closely collaborated with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Independent Observer team that monitored the clean sport program for the event and made sure to implement any potential corrective actions as swiftly as possible.
