Athlete Biological Passport

The fundamental principle of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) is to monitor selected biological variables over time that indirectly reveal the effects of doping, rather than attempting to detect the doping substance or method itself.

Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) can integrate the ABP into the larger framework of a robust anti-doping program in order to:

  • Identify athletes requiring further attention through intelligent and timely interpretation of Passport data. The ABP provides valuable information that can be used to direct anti-doping activities such as Target Testing or investigations more effectively; and
  • Pursue possible Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) 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).

 

ABP Guidelines

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has taken the lead in the development of the ABP. WADA’s Athlete Biological Passport Operating Guidelines (ABP Guidelines) were first approved by WADA’s Executive Committee and took effect on 1 December 2009. This first version contained a standardized approach to the profiling of individual Athlete Haematological variables for the detection of blood doping. In 2014, the initial system was complemented with the Steroidal Module, which was launched to establish longitudinal profiles of an athlete’s steroid variables measured in urine samples.

Since then, WADA ABP Guidelines have been continuously refined. The ABP approach has been successfully integrated into the anti-doping strategies of International Federation (IF) and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADO) programs. This brought a significant increase in the number of Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) that result from targeting by the ABP as well as a number of direct ADRVs.

WADA continues to develop the ABP in consultation with stakeholders, by refining the present modules as well as adding new ones as they are finalized.

 

Implementation in ADAMS

The Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS ) supports the implementation of the ABP. More information on how the ABP is implemented in ADAMS, including the necessary steps to manage an ABP program in line with the ABP Operating Guidelines and related Technical Documents, please visit the ADAMS Help Centre.