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27 November 2025
Athlete involvement is key to making resources that are useful. Nikki Hamblin, OLY, a member of the ITA Education Team led the production of these guides and was in a testing pool herself for several years. In addition, the ITA invited three athletes from different sports to review the guides and provide feedback.
Leon Felderer, who is an Italian luger and serves as chairman of the FIL Athletes’ Commission, praised the guide’s clarity:
“This is a clear and informative document. For athletes entering the RTP for the first time, this guide can really help reduce some of the initial stress. The process can feel overwhelming.” He also highlighted that the section on consequences “is especially helpful, since most Anti-Doping questions from athletes tend to revolve around that topic. The entire guide explains procedures in a detailed but understandable way.”
Caroline Jouisse, who is a French swimmer spoke to its user-friendliness:
“I was in the testing pool when I was about eighteen and the first few times it was hard for me to understand it all. I’m glad athletes can now have a very user-friendly guide. It provides essential information to help them through the process of their whereabouts.” She emphasised the bigger picture: “Promoting and having a clean sport is a must for me. I understand it can be heavy for us to complete the whereabouts, but it’s for the best of our sport and we all want to win in a fair way.”
Cyrille Tchatchet, who is a Cameroon-born British weightlifter underscored the guide’s accessibility:
“This Whereabouts Guide is clear, easy to read, and straight to the point. I appreciate the accompanying videos that explain complex tasks. It’s well-written and well-laid out.” He added: “It took me less than 15 minutes to read through this with a critical eye. The videos actually show how to perform some complex tasks, which is a bonus.”
Cyrille Tchatchet, who is also part of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Athlete Council (for the period 2025-2027) and the IWF Athletes Commission reminded fellow athletes of their vital role: “Submitting accurate whereabouts is our way, as athletes, to contribute to the fight against doping and preserve the integrity of sport and fair play. It allows equal and transparent testing across all athletes, protecting our careers and sports’ credibility.”
How the Guides Help Athletes, Step by Step
The new Whereabouts Guides are designed to make the submission process clear, efficient, and athlete focused. They walk athletes through each core requirement: setting up an ADAMS account, entering complete contact details, defining accurate 60-minute time slots (for RTP athletes), and submitting training, competition, and travel information. With practical examples and short tutorial videos, the guides support athletes in fulfilling their Whereabouts responsibilities confidently and correctly.
This initiative shows ITA’s strong commitment to supporting athletes with clear guidance and education, helping them meet their responsibilities and keep sport fair.
