The fundamental principle of the Athlete Biological Passport is based on the monitoring of selected parameters over time that indirectly reveal the effect of doping, as opposed to the traditional direct detection of doping by analytical means.

The objective of integrating the Athlete Biological Passport into the larger framework of a robust anti-doping program may include:
 

• To identify and target athlete for specific analytical testing by intelligent and timely interpretation of passport data; and
• To pursue possible anti-doping rule violations in accordance with Article 2.2: Use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method  of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).

The concept of an Athlete Passport has been discussed by WADA since 2002. It gained further momentum as a result of questions raised by WADA during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games surrounding “no start” suspensions of athletes by their federations following health checks that reported high haemoglobin levels. Some concerns were expressed at the time regarding the results and their potential relation to doping.

Cognizant of the varying approaches to monitoring blood profiles among different sports, WADA convened a meeting to foster exchange of information and to develop a consensus on the topic. The participants, representing International Federations, agreed that the analysis of blood variables should be considered as part of the anti-doping process itself as it can help to identify abnormal profiles, and that WADA should take the lead in convening further meetings of relevant experts in the field of haematology.

The group, through a series of meetings, came to the consensus that the longitudinal analysis of athlete blood variables should be registered in a database, and should be used in target testing and sanctioning when abnormal values are observed.

WADA is engaged with experts and stakeholders to further develop the ABP and is presently working on steroid and endocrine modules. 

The fight against doping relies on several strategies, including the direct testing of athletes as well as evidence gathered in the context of non-analytical doping violations. By combining these strategies, and seeking new ones to address emerging threats, the global fight against doping is more effective.

The typical doping control approach based on the detection of prohibited substance or their metabolites in an athlete’s sample remains an effective approach; however it has limitations when an athlete may be using substances on an intermittent and/or low-dose basis. Furthermore, new substances or modifications of prohibited substances (e.g. designer drugs) may be difficult to detect by conventional analytical means. In recent years, doping regimes have become much more scientifically planned and have taken advantage of the weaknesses in traditional protocols. This underscores the need for a more sophisticated and complementary strategy to effectively fight doping, namely, the Athlete Biological Passport.