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13 June 2023
Recognising the need for additional doping control personnel at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the ITA aimed to meet the scale and complexity of the event. With nearly 1,000 individuals involved in various anti-doping roles, including chaperones, Doping Control Officers (DCOs), Doping Control Station Managers, coordinators, and the ITA team, it is imperative to have a competent and prepared workforce. While the local national anti-doping agency, in the case of Paris 2024 the Agence française de lutte contre le dopage (AFLD), typically provides the majority of DCOs, the Olympic Games demand an increased number of personnel. As part of a legacy project, the ITA took on the responsibility of training additional DCOs for Paris 2024, who will continue to work with the AFLD after the Games.
Eligibility criteria for becoming a DCO for Paris 2024 align with the requirements established in France. Professionals holding valid diplomas as nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, medical students (interns), pharmacists, laboratory technicians, or police officers are legally authorised to work as anti-doping personnel in the country. Additionally, candidates must reside in France with a valid work permit. Proficiency in spoken and written English is also essential, as fluency in English is a requirement for working with international athletes at the Olympic Games.
The ITA’s DCOF training course, conducted in April 2023, serves as the first stage of training for the selected candidates. The program covers essential aspects, including anti-doping rules, protocols, sample collection procedures, documentation, and the importance of maintaining confidentiality and impartiality. Participants also gain practical experience through hands-on training exercises and simulations, ensuring they are well-prepared to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
In the next step, the participants will gain practical experience whilst observing testing missions with existing AFLD DCOs and lead their first doping controls under observation. Before joining the anti-doping workforce, they must also complete the ITA International Doping Control Officer (IDCO) Training Program.
