WADA Strategic Testing Expert Advisory Group discusses final draft of the 2027 International Standard for Testing

Dear Colleagues, 

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Strategic Testing Expert Advisory Group (STEAG) met in Lausanne on 7-8 October 2025 to discuss the following topics: 

• An update from the 2027 International Standard for Testing (IST) Drafting Team (DT) on the major changes of the final draft of the 2027 IST, as part of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and International Standards Update Process. The 2027 IST, along with the other International Standards, were approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) at their meeting on 5 December 2025;  
• An update from the Working Group on the Operational Independence of National Anti-Doping Organizations as it relates to its progress on testing and initial recommendations that are being considered; 
• Updates on the latest Athlete Biological Passport and laboratory developments, including, but not limited, to, the prohibited substances and methods included in the Technical Document for Sport Specific Analysis (TDSSA);  
• Updates on the Dried Blood Spot (DBS) project and the recently approved TD2026 DBS; 
• The development of an e-sports testing strategy led by WADA’s Sport Movement Relations Department in WADA’s European Office; 
• An update on the progress of the 2025/2026 ADAMS Development Roadmap, including the improvements and redesign of the new Athlete Center (which will replace Athlete Central), WADA’s Application Programming Interface (API) connectivity, and the required functionality changes to support the 2027 IST requirements; and  
• The review of version 11.0 of the TDSSA, which has since been approved by the ExCo and will come into effect on 1 January 2026. 

In the interest of providing further insight to stakeholders regarding the matters covered during these meetings, we are pleased to share a more detailed Summary of Outcomes. 

Should you have any questions or comments regarding the work of the STEAG, we invite you to contact testing@wada-ama.org. 

Best regards, 

World Anti-Doping Agency